Bayer Seeks Immunity From Roundup Lawsuits in Farm Bill

Bayer Seeks Immunity From Roundup Lawsuits in Farm Bill

Introduction

Bayer is reportedly urging Congress to include provisions in the latest version of the Farm Bill that would protect the company from future Roundup lawsuits related to the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Allegations suggest that Bayer played a role in drafting the initial version of the bill currently under review. Roundup, containing glyphosate as its active ingredient, has been widely used both in agriculture and residential settings as a weed killer. Despite being marketed as safe, increasing research links glyphosate to serious health risks.

In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen. This classification has led to restrictions on Roundup use worldwide due to concerns about its potential to cause non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other cancers.

Over the past decade, Bayer and its Monsanto subsidiary have faced more than 120,000 lawsuits, alleging that users developed cancer after using Roundup. While Bayer has settled many of these cases, paying out over $10 billion, the company still faces thousands of ongoing lawsuits, with new cases emerging as users continue to develop health issues.

To limit its liability, Bayer is pushing for legislation that would provide immunity from such lawsuits, focusing its efforts on the U.S. Farm Bill. This bill, passed every five years, governs agricultural policies, including regulations on pesticide use.

A draft version of the Farm Bill reportedly includes a provision crafted by Bayer, which would establish uniform pesticide labeling laws at the federal level, preventing states from enforcing their own labeling requirements. This provision aims to shield the company from litigation if its product labels comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.

Despite scientific concerns and the World Health Organization's classification, the EPA has maintained that glyphosate is safe. Some states, like California, have taken a stricter stance, requiring cancer warnings on Roundup labels, which Bayer has resisted legally. Bayer has also lobbied for similar protections in other states, including Idaho, where recent legislation could make it harder for individuals to file claims against the company.

As the Farm Bill's fate remains uncertain, particularly in an election year, Bayer officials have denied that the proposed provision would completely shield the company from liability, stating that the final decision still lies with the courts.