
In an unfolding legal saga, Bayer, the agrochemical conglomerate, has found some solace in Georgia, which recently enacted a law that offers pesticide manufacturers immunity from certain types of lawsuits. The legislation, signed into effect by Governor Brian Kemp, aims to shield these companies, including Bayer, from legal challenges alleging a failure to inform customers about potential health risks associated with products like the widely used weed killer, Roundup.
With Georgia becoming the second state, following North Dakota, to enforce such protective measures, the legal landscape for Bayer appears to be changing. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, despite being written broadly, the law primarily serves to legally protect any pesticide manufacturer that complies with federal label requirements. Taking effect on Jan. 1, the legislation won't have an impact on active litigations, such as the recent verdict where a man was awarded nearly $2.1 billion in Georgia after claiming Roundup caused his cancer.
Bayer's road has been tumultuous since its acquisition of Monsanto in 2018, inheriting a legacy of over 180,000 claims linking glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has deemed glyphosate unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans when used correctly, Bayer has been mired in legal battles and has earmarked a substantial $16 billion to resolve ongoing cases, as per AP News.
Bayer is enmeshed in a concerted effort to salvage the reputation and utility of glyphosate, creating alliances with agricultural industry groups to push for favorable legislation across the states and at the federal level. This alliance has also sought the intervention of the U.S. Supreme Court. According to a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta, Brian Naber, president of Bayer’s crop sciences for North America, Australia, and New Zealand, expressed that the new law "demonstrates that Georgia stands with its farmers, who work tirelessly to produce safe and affordable food."
The debate over glyphosate's safety has deep agricultural implications, with its proponents including Bayer arguing that the herbicide is crucial for maintaining crop yields and reducing grocery prices by controlling weeds without excessive tilling, which can lead to soil erosion. Designed to be used in conjunction with genetically modified seeds that resist glyphosate, Roundup has become a staple in growing key crops like corn, soybeans, and cotton.