2020-02-07 Letter to Richard P. Creagan and Lynn DeCoite HB 1665 Relating to Health (2)

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Roy Takemoto '4oJ+�Y%oF M,!Y'; Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor • , •;. Barbara J. Kossow ♦oF'N► Depury Managing Director County of Hawai i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 February 7, 2020 Representative Richard P. Creagan, Chair Representative Lynn DeCoite, Vice Chair Committee on Agriculture Dear Chair Creagan, Vice Chair DeCoite, and Committee Members: RE: HB 1665 Relating to Health I oppose HB 1665, which would outlaw glysphosate in the State of Hawaii. My opposition is based on the science, which I believe we should respect. HB 1665 relies upon the World Health Organization's (WHO) listing of glyphosate as a "probable carcinogen". However, the full story is that in 2015, the WHO Internation agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was one program (out of four) that publishied an evaluation of glysphosate categorizing it as "probably carcinogenic". The other three programs within the WHO that reviewed glyphosate found glyphosate not to be a probable carcinogen: WHO Core Assessment Group; WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Safety; and WHO International Programme on Chemical Safety In addition, in 2017, the EPA evaluated the cancer risk of glyphosate to humans and determined that glyphosate was "not likely to be carcinogenic to humans" when used according to the labels. The fact that there have been large jury awards on the mainland is of concern, and out future use of glyphosate needs to take into acount all risks and rewards that we are aware of. But I cannot agree that the product should be outlawed based on the evidence available to us at the present time. Respectfully Submitted, Harry Kim MAYOR County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.