An exclusive report by Reuters reveals The World Health Organization’s cancer agency advised academic experts not to disclose documents they were asked to release under U.S. freedom of information laws. The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer is facing criticism over how it classifies carcinogens amid a recent classification regarding glyphosate. A letter and email obtained by Reuters shows officials from IARC cautioned scientists who worked on a review in 2015 of glyphosate against releasing requested material. The review published last year concluded glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic,” putting IARC at odds with regulators around the world. Critics say they want the documents to find out more about how IARC reached its conclusion. The agency says it was seeking to protect its work from external interference and defending its panels’ freedom to debate evidence openly and critically.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.