Status: 02/14/2022 3:59 p.m
The controversial herbicide glyphosate is in danger of running out. The reason is production problems at the chemical and pharmaceutical company Bayer.
The chemical and pharmaceutical group Bayer is struggling with raw material supply problems in the production of its weed killer glyphosate. One of the company’s main suppliers of raw materials experienced a mechanical failure in the production facility, which has led to a significant reduction in production rates, Bayer wrote in a letter to customers, quoted by the Reuters news agency.
An important precursor for the production of glyphosate is affected by the problems. This affects Bayer’s ability to deliver glyphosate and products containing glyphosate. However, the supplier is working on resuming production. Bayer procured additional materials and took other measures to best manage the situation.
Released from contractual obligations for the time being
The group officially declared force majeure to be the cause of the loss of production. As a result, the group is temporarily released from its contractual obligations and can therefore not be prosecuted under liability law.
According to the letter, however, Bayer assumes that the repairs to the supplier’s production line will take around three months. The letter is aimed at customers who buy glyphosate as an active ingredient. Bayer’s own production of Roundup weed killers containing glyphosate is also affected. According to Bayer, the market for crop protection chemicals and products is currently in historically short supply.
Glyphosate is causing Bayer trouble again. Bayer had brought enormous legal risks into its own home by buying US seed giant Monsanto for more than $60 billion. In total, more than 100,000 lawsuits have been filed against Bayer for alleged cancer risks. So far, the mess Bayer has cost tens of billions of dollars in dollars.