The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating possible antitrust violations by Monsanto Co., St. Louis, in the glyphosate herbicide market. (At Closing News).

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating possible antitrust violations by Monsanto Co., St. Louis, in the glyphosate herbicide market. Monsanto's patent on glyphosate, which is the basic ingredient in Roundup, expired three years ago, and the company's sales have come under increasing pressure from competitive products and pricing. Monsanto spokeswoman Lori Fisher says the company believes that the Justice Department has requested information from various glyphosate marketers and distributors, and that Monsanto has cooperated with the government's "very broad-based" request for information. "From our standpoint, we believe we've acted appropriately, and we are cooperating with their inquiry," she says.