Health Canada concluded earlier this year the product was still safe to use.   Ottawa—Bayer Canada says the herbicide glyphosate is not responsible for the illnesses claimed in a class action suit, which a Toronto law firm is trying to get certified so it can launch a $500 million court action against the company. “While we have great sympathy for the plaintiffs, glyphosate-based herbicides are not the cause of their illnesses and we will vigorously defend our products,” the company said in a statement. “Glyphosate has been extensively studied globally by scientists and regulators, and results from this research confirm it is not carcinogenic.” “We firmly stand behind the safety of glyphosate-based products and as a company devoted to life sciences, assure Canadians that their health and the environment are our top priority.” Diamond & Diamond, a national personal injury law firm, says there are more than 60 individuals named as plaintiffs, but believes thousands may have been affected. Darryl Singer, the law firm's head of commercial and civil litigation, said the plaintiffs are looking not only for financial compensation, but also for measures to prevent similar illnesses from pesticides in the future. Back in January, Health Canada said there still are no good scientific reasons to curtail the use of glyphosate. The department “left no stone unturned” in conducting an independent scientific review of eight objections raised against to its 2017 decision to renew the weed killer's registration for use by farmers and gardeners. The Department said then the herbicide posed no risk of cancer for users and was safe for the environment if sprayed according to label directions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached the same conclusion. The objections filed by environment and other interest groups provided no good reasons to alter its decision, the department said. “After a thorough scientific review, we have concluded that the concerns raised by the objectors could not be scientifically supported when considering the entire body of relevant data. The objections raised did not create doubt or concern regarding the scientific basis for the 2017 re-evaluation decision for glyphosate.” Pierre Petelle, president and CEO of CropLife Canada, which represents manufacturers of farm input, said, “It's unfortunate that some of the public attention being paid to glyphosate is causing unnecessary concern and confusion about the safety of glyphosate. Glyphosate has been a critical tool for farmers over the last four decades that has helped them be more productive and more sustainable. “Scientific decisions are best left to the scientific community, not the courts,” he said. “And the broader scientific community has been clear in its assessment of the safety of glyphosate. In addition to Health Canada, no other major regulatory body in the world considers glyphosate to be a cancer risk to humans.” The Canadian Federation of Agriculture said, “Glyphosate has been used by farmers around the world for decades, which has significantly improved productivity, reduced farmers' environmental impact and reduced their carbon footprint. The use of glyphosate is ubiquitous and, as yet, there is no alternative which is as safe and effective as glyphosate.” Bayer said it has reached out users of the herbicide and others “to build a broader trust in science. We are dedicated to being open and honest and have published extensive research, which support our products' safety. We are committed to ensuring our customers continue to have access to these critical products as part of their sustainable agricultural activities.” Glyphosate-based herbicides have been used safely for more than 40 years. There is an extensive body of research on glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides, including more than 800 rigorous studies submitted to Canadian, EPA, European and other regulators in connection with the registration process that confirms these products are safe when used as directed. This is why glyphosate-based herbicides are approved for use in over 160 countries throughout the world, including Canada, Bayer said. Approvals of glyphosate and other pesticides always stress the need to follow the directions on the container to ensure safe use. Glyphosate has become a regular target for law suits linking its use with their illnesses especially non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. In addition to thousands of 18,000 lawsuits filed against Roundup makers in the United States, actions have been filed in B.C., Quebec, Saskatchewan and Manitoba courts. Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.