There is an ongoing debate regarding the use of glyphosate in weed killers such as Roundup. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified the ingredient as a probable carcinogen in humans. Yet, Georgia recently became the second state to implement legislation that protects Bayer, the company that produces Roundup, from potential lawsuits. This includes lawsuits that claim the company failed to warn customers that there were potential dangers associated with its use. While the company claims that the product poses no risk if used properly, there have still been many Roundup cancer lawsuits filed in the last few years. These lawsuits have mostly been filed by people exposed to Roundup over a long period of time, such as farmers and agricultural workers.
The Legislation That Protects Bayer From Roundup Cancer Lawsuits
The legislation was signed by Brian Kemp, the governor of Georgia, in early May. It is designed to protect pesticide manufacturer companies such as Bayer from cancer lawsuits. Georgia is the second state to implement such legislation, with North Dakota leading the way in April. So far, nine other states have also considered following suit. Originally owned by the Monsanto company, Rounup was purchased by the German company Bayer in 2018. Soon afterwards, the company was hit with a barrage of Roundup cancer lawsuits, claiming that glyphosate exposure causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Some Studies Suggest A Link
Several studies have indicated a link between glyphosate exposure and non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk. Yet, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is not carcinogenic to humans if used as indicated. When it comes to the Roundup cancer lawsuits, more than 67,000 of the 181,000 claims remain outstanding. Despite insisting that glyphosate is safe, the company has removed the ingredient from the residential version of the product. It has also set aside $16 billion to settle the various Roundup cancer lawsuits. However, the company still uses the controversial ingredient in its agricultural version.
Read More: The Best Ways to Remove Pesticides from Your Fruit and Vegetables
Won’t Affect Existing Cases
The new law in Georgia will take effect on the 1st of January 2026. This means that the new legislation will not affect the Roundup cancer lawsuits that already exist against the company. This includes a jury’s decision in March to award almost $2.1 billion to a Georgian man who claimed that his cancer was caused by exposure to Roundup. The governor of Georgia stated that he made his decision after hearing from the agricultural community in the state. In order to try to raise awareness, a huge campaign is being planned by a team consisting of various agricultural industry groups and Bayer.
Campaigning For Glyphosate
The campaign is multi-pronged, consisting of the pursuit of legislation, Supreme Court intervention, and running ads on various media to espouse the role glyphosate plays in agriculture. This includes running adverts on internet sites, billboards, radio stations, and television. Advocates for its use say that glyphosate has been used to effectively control weeds for decades. They claim that it lessens the need for tilting, which prevents soil from eroding. Furthermore, they say that Roundup has been formulated to work with genetically modified seeds that are resistant to any negative effects associated with its use. This includes modified crops such as cotton, soybeans, and corn.
Bayer Claims It Is Necessary
Bayer claims that Roundup is both safe is used as recommended and a necessary part of agricultural practice. They say that without the use of glyphosate, weeds become uncontrollable, crops would yield less product, and prices at the grocery store would ultimately rise. According to the president of Bayer’s crop sciences, “The new law demonstrates that Georgia stands with its farmers, who work tirelessly to produce safe and affordable food.” However, these assertions have done little to assure all of those individuals currently involved in Round cancer lawsuits.
Which People Are Eligible To File In the Roundup Cancer Lawsuits?
According to drugwatch.com, if you used the product often before receiving a non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the company. Some people filed individual lawsuits, whereas others filed class action claims for reimbursement. While the company offered up to $10,9 billion to settle thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits in 2020, many of these cases are still pending. As of May 2025, Bayer is apparently making another effort to resolve the lawsuits through another settlement. Earlier in May, the company lost an appeal that sought to overturn a $175 million verdict from 2023.
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