On Friday (local time) in San Francisco, the court classified the EPA’s assessment, according to which the active ingredient in Bayer’s controversial weed killer Roundup poses no particular danger to humans, as doubtful. The topic is of great importance for the pharmaceutical and chemical group Bayer. He is facing numerous US lawsuits in the US over alleged cancer risks from glyphosate. On Friday, however, there was also good news for the DAX company: in a case in the state of Oregon, it achieved another success in court. Bayer has now won the last four US lawsuits involving plaintiffs who blame glyphosate for cancer.
The EPA last reviewed the weed killer in 2020 and maintained that it posed no health risk when used correctly. The environmental organization NRDC, among others, complained about this. “For years, the EPA has refused to do anything about the harmful effects of this pesticide on humans and the environment,” the organization said on Friday. The court made it clear that things could not go on like this.
In its ruling, the relevant court of appeals was particularly bothered by the EPA’s justification that glyphosate is not carcinogenic. The underlying analysis is “flawed” and not in line with the agency’s guidelines. The EPA declined to comment on the criticism when asked. A spokeswoman said the glyphosate decision would be reviewed.
In a statement, Bayer expressed confidence that the EPA found no cancer risks from glyphosate even in a new review. The US government’s environmental agency acted conscientiously the last time and carried out a “rigorous” evaluation of scientific studies from the past 40 years. Bayer had shouldered the glyphosate lawsuits with its $60 billion takeover of seed giant Monsanto in 2018.
The many procedures in the USA are based in particular on an assessment by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization. In 2015, she classified Monsanto’s weed killer as “probably carcinogenic” to humans. Bayer rejects this and argues with the approval of many regulatory authorities and studies that are intended to prove that glyphosate is safe when used as directed.
The tide finally turned after Bayer lost the first three glyphosate lawsuits in the United States. On Friday, the Dax group won the fourth procedure in a row. The Jackson County, Oregon grand jury unanimously found Roundup not responsible for the plaintiff’s cancer. “We remain fully committed to Roundup’s security,” said Bayer. The group announced that it would “self-confidently” defend itself in all future legal conflicts on the subject.
Verdict expected in glyphosate honey damages trial
After more than two years of litigation, the Frankfurt (Oder) district court is expected to hear the verdict on a beekeeper’s lawsuit against an agricultural company this Monday (12:00 p.m.). The reason is the use of the controversial weed killer glyphosate. In the process, the beekeeper is demanding compensation for his contaminated honey. A verdict in favor of the beekeeper would have a signal effect on agriculture and politics. According to the Aurelia Foundation, which supports the plaintiff, beekeepers have so far mostly been left with the damage caused by others if their honey has been contaminated by pesticides from agriculture.
In the spring of 2019, the beekeeper set up his beehives next to an area managed by the agricultural company. At the end of April 2019, the company treated the area with weed killers containing glyphosate. The bees carried the nectar or pollen contaminated with glyphosate into the beehive. Wax and four tons of honey had to be destroyed. According to his own statements, the beekeeper had to give up his business.
According to the Aurelia Foundation, subsequent laboratory analyzes of the honey showed that the maximum permissible residue levels for glyphosate were exceeded by a factor of up to 152. According to its own statements, the foundation is committed to nature conservation, in particular to bees and bee-friendly agriculture.
Bayer shares were temporarily up 1.04 percent in XETRA trading on Monday at EUR 63.20.
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