Bayer Tries to Block Lawsuits

Bayer is throwing its weight behind legislation that would block failure to warn lawsuits that claim Roundup causes cancer. 

The backstory: There’s a lot to unpack when rounding up all the current lawsuits and news about Roundup. 54K active Roundup-related lawsuits against Monsanto/Bayer are still active.

The EPA doesn’t require a cancer warning label on Roundup, and as recently as 2020 found it unlikely to be carcinogenic when used as directed. The EPA was ordered to reevaluate in 2022, but the results of that review haven’t been released.

The bill: As long as pesticide manufacturers follow federal labeling requirements, the bill would halt lawsuits that claim they failed to warn consumers of potential health risks. Bayer proposed the bill in Iowa for the second time; last year saw it pass the Senate but fail in the House.

Iowa senators advanced the bill on Wednesday.

The backlash: 150+ Iowans protested the bill at the Iowa Capitol. Individuals, environmental groups, and trial lawyers say the bill robs farmers and landscapers of their only means to seek justice following pesticide-related illness. The Iowa Association for Justice notes that Iowa plaintiffs account for less than 1% of the Roundup-related lawsuits against Bayer.

Soundbite: "Iowa’s economy relies on its agriculture, and it is of utmost importance that the legislature works to preserve farmers’ access to American-made glyphosate, so that Iowa’s ag industry, economy, and families can continue to thrive." — Kevin Ross, farmer in Pottawattamie County, Iowa