Glyphosate is a widely used weedicide that kills weeds by blocking enzymes necessary for growth. Its major constituents include salts of ammonium, potassium, sodium, Isopropylamine and Trimethylsulfonium or Trimesium.
Glyphosate has the potential to increase cancer, reproductive defects, developmental toxicity, nerve and immune toxicity.
Glyphosate was approved for use as a weedicide only in tea gardens and non-crop areas in India.
The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has banned the use of this weedicide and only authorized pest control operators have allowed its use.