london oct officials u.s. government health research agency question congressional committee taxpayers fund world health organization cancer agency face criticism classify carcinogens aide u.s. house committee oversight government reform tell reuters national institute health officials agree give in-person brief committee question raise lawmakers grant international agency research cancer iarc semi-autonomous part base lyon france hear private nih officials answer question committee investigators aide say committee work nih schedule brief soon aide say date yet set brief come committee chairman add voice grow concern among senior u.s. lawmakers way iarc review classify substances recent years iarc cause controversy whether things coffee mobile phone process meat weed killer glyphosate cause cancer critics include industry say sometimes quick conclude substances might cause cancer cause unnecessary health scar defend methods scientifically sound sept. 26 letter nih director francis collins oversight committee chairman jason chaffetz describe iarc record controversy retractions inconsistencies ask nih 33 billion annual budget continue fund iarc standards determinations classify substances carcinogenic therefore cancer-causing appear inconsistent scientific research generate much controversy alarm chaffetz write nih confirm email reuters receive chaffetz letter respond directly committee refer reuters iarc comment spokeswoman iarc tell reuters chaffetz letter contain misconceptions iarc director chris wild seek address letter nih director wild letter date oct. copy via email reuters thursday reject chaffetz criticisms say iarc classifications know monographs widely respect scientific rigor standardize transparent process ... freedom conflict interest wild also defend iarc evaluation coffee dispute chaffetz description retraction iarc previous assessment coffee possibly carcinogenic update june year iarc say find conclusive evidence carcinogenic effect coffee report 2016 retraction re-evaluation base additional 25 years scientific evidence wild say chaffetz however ask nih detail standards award grant vet oversight grantees also ask full disclosure nih fund iarc money spend relation iarc activities question grant award nih iarc could put significant portion iarc fund risk iarc resources relatively modest 2014 revenue 30 million euros 33 million letter chaffetz cite nih grant database show give iarc 1.2 million far year database also show since 1992 nih grant iarc total 40 million american chemistry council also join voice concern issue statement follow chaffetz letter accuse iarc long history pass judgment substances fundamentally-flawed process yield questionable result welcome interest house committee ... hope shed light close somewhat opaque relationship iarc nih include use taxpayer dollars resources support iarc activities say iarc also dispute european food safety authority efsa unite nations unite state regulators glyphosate widely-used weedkiller develop monsanto iarc say glyphosate probably carcinogenic efsa several regulators say dispute prompt robert aderholt chairman u.s. congressional appropriations subcommittee agriculture write june nih collins question fund iarc letter aderholt say iarc conclusions appear result significantly flaw process add academia raise question quality science transparency process glyphosate dispute also hold decision whether relicense product use europe 0.8941 euros exclusive u.s. lawmakers investigate fund cancer agency