By Nico van Burick
The years-long legal troubles of agricultural company Bayer concerning its herbicide Roundup are again in the spotlight after the possibility was raised at its annual meeting that legal costs might compel the company to cease sales.
CEO Bill Anderson informed shareholders that due to the ongoing legal actions in America, the company might be forced to stop selling the product.
“This is not something we want to do, but we must prepare for all contingencies,” he stated.
Bayer has been defending itself for years against damage claims in America, as Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, allegedly causes cancer.
AFP reports that Bayer, headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany, has already spent over $10 billion (R193 billion) on settlements and court cases in America.
Anderson says Bayer has committed to significantly reducing litigation by the end of next year.
In previous court cases in America, it was found that Roundup can cause cancer and that Monsanto, which initially manufactured the herbicide, was negligent and failed to warn consumers about the dangers. Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018, along with the legal problems.
Anderson states the company is intentionally defending itself in court cases. A few weeks ago, Bayer petitioned America’s highest court to review the federal court rulings, asserting that American farmers deserve clarity on the issue.
“The current position is not an option, and much is at stake for us and American farmers.”
Bayer claims the rulings in America contradict a substantial amount of scientific evidence, along with global regulatory and scientific analyses regarding the safety of glyphosate.
Previous statements highlighted that the European Union (EU) approved the use of glyphosate at the end of 2023 after a lengthy and thorough process amid significant pressure from activists who questioned the product’s safety. Among other things, 1 500 studies and over 12 000 scientific articles on glyphosate were examined.
The company states there has been a consensus for decades among leading health authorities worldwide that glyphosate can be safely used according to the instructions on the label.
No regulatory authority has determined that glyphosate is neurotoxic or causes cancer.
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