Supreme Court sides with Monsanto in case over cancer risks from weedkiller

In a significant victory for Monsanto and its parent company Bayer, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the company cannot be held liable under state laws for failing to warn consumers about the alleged cancer risks of its weedkiller Roundup on its label. The high court's 7-2 decision, delivered by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, found that a federal law regulating pesticide sales and labeling bars lawsuits in state courts that allege Monsanto failed to include a cancer warning on Roundup's packaging.

The court's opinion stated that federal law requires Monsanto to use an EPA-approved label, which currently does not include a cancer warning. Unless the EPA mandates or approves a different label, state courts cannot compel Monsanto to add such a warning. This ruling directly addresses the core argument in numerous lawsuits claiming that Roundup's use led to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

This Supreme Court decision provides a crucial legal shield for Bayer as it navigates the ongoing litigation. The German pharmaceutical company, which purchased Monsanto in 2018, has been working to resolve thousands of claims. In February, Bayer proposed a $7.25 billion class settlement aimed at addressing both current and future claims related to Roundup's use. The proposed settlement is currently awaiting approval from a Missouri state court, with potential annual payments extending up to 21 years if greenlit.