Roundup Cancer Lawsuit News

Europe Could Ban Glyphosate in 2022

Negotiations to extend Bayer's license to sell glyphosate is expected to phase out Europe's usage of the chemical over the years coming years

Monday, July 1, 2019 - Eliminating the industrial usage of the controversial weedkiller glyphosate may not come from regulations set by the United States but instead from the European Union. Previously US-based Monsanto, maker of Roundup herbicide was acquired in 2018 by Germany's Bayer Inc., for $63 billion effective changing the domicile for the company from the United States to Europe. Germany's Angela Markel has spoken out on her country's plans to discontinue usage of glyphosate. According to Reuters, Germany's Chancellor told reporters "Use of Bayer's contested weedkiller glyphosate, the subject of more than 10,000 lawsuits in the U.S. over claims it causes cancer, will eventually die out." Merkel vaguely cited unnamed developments that are underway that will cause the country's farmers to no longer deploy the controversial herbicide. "Things are developing, and we will eventually come to a point where glyphosate isn't deployed any more," adding, " that a gradual end of glyphosate, or RoundUp, should not overburden farmers." Monsanto Roundup lawyers are committed to seeking justice no matter how complicated the case.

Merkel's comments seemed to reflect the EU's position on the upcoming glyphosate registration set to occur in 2022. Bayer is required to re-register glyphosate on a regular basis, every 15 years, in order to continue to sell it in Europe. The 15-year exemption was reduced to 5 years in 2017, the last time glyphosate was evaluated. The next glyphosate evaluation process is scheduled to begin in late 2019 and promises to be intense as Bayer intends to ... invite scientists, journalists and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the company's scientific preparations." Bayer's executives and the company's stock price has come under increasing pressure as 4 plaintiffs have been awarded billions of dollars in punitive damages for cancer they suffered as a result of coming into direct skin contact with Roundup weedkiller over the course of many years. Direct contact with the chemical mixture of Roundup is thought to cause absorption into the bloodstream that allegedly leads to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. As a result of stockholder pressure, Bayer has issued a position statement declaring the company would invest $5.6 billion towards research and development of alternative weedkillers to glyphosate.

The mere thought of restricting the use of glyphosate by European farmers is a cause for great concern. Science Daily.com reports that glyphosate is now the most heavily used herbicide in history with over 18 billion pounds sprayed on agricultural crops worldwide every year. European farmers could be rendered non-competitive with other countries if they are unable to cut their weed-control costs.

Any glyphosate regulation changes in the European Union (EU) could also have an impact on how the German company is viewed by the American public, in particular, by juries that could award billions to plaintiffs with cancer in pending lawsuits against Bayer. Bayer is confident they can win the maximum extension of glyphosate's license and positively influence the American court of public opinion. An avalanche of lawsuits against Monsanto has unleashed two years ago when International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published their opinion that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Bayer/Monsanto's Roundup herbicide is "probably carcinogenic to humans." The IARC opinion was based on testing of laboratory mice, conducted and reviewed by a panel of 17 independent toxicology experts. The IARC is a division of the prestigious World Health Organization whose findings on glyphosate prompted the US State of California to list Roundup as a cancer-causing substance sold in the state.

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Attorneys handling Roundup cancer lawsuits for leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma offer free, no-obligation case review for individuals and families who believe they may have grounds to file a Roundup cancer lawsuit. Working on a contingency basis, these attorneys are committed to never charging legal fees unless they win compensation in your Roundup cancer lawsuit. The product liability litigators handling Roundup claims at the Onder Law Firm have a strong track record of success in representing families harmed by dangerous drugs and consumer products.