The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the maker of Roundup weedkiller, blocking thousands of lawsuits alleging it failed to warn people of cancer risks. The decision is a victory for Bayer, the Germany-based agrochemical manufacturer that acquired Roundup when it bought its original producer, Monsanto, in 2018.

Background

The case came before the justices after a tidal wave of litigation that included some multibillion-dollar verdicts against Bayer. The high court, in a 7-2 ruling, found that Roundup cannot face failure-to-warn lawsuits in state courts because federal regulations have found a cancer link unlikely and do not require a warning label.

Bayer CEO Bill Anderson said, ‘This decision is good for American farmers who help feed the world. It provides the regulatory clarity necessary for innovators like us to develop the agricultural tools that guarantee an affordable food supply.’ The company has pledged billions for settlements and has stopped using glyphosate in Roundup sold in the U.S. residential lawn and garden market.

Reactions

The ruling was denounced by environmental groups and lawyers representing people who believe they were harmed by Roundup. Attorney Christopher Seeger said, ‘This Supreme Court ruling wrongly slams the courthouse door on Americans sickened by pesticides.’ Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides, said, ‘The decision is a tragic setback for public and environmental health.’

The case before the Supreme Court was filed by Missouri resident John Durnell, who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after more than 20 years of using Roundup. A jury agreed that the company failed to warn him about possible cancer dangers and awarded him $1.25 million.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.