weed killer
Groundbreaking decision in the glyphosate dispute expected
Bayer relies on the ruling of the highest US court in the glyphosate dispute. Photo: Hendrik Schmidt / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
A very important decision is pending in the dispute over Bayer’s weed killer glyphosate. The chemical company is hoping for a break from the ruling by the highest US court.
The highest US court will discuss the acceptance of a complaint from Bayer in a glyphosate case this Friday.
Whether the judges will accept the landmark case for trial will then be announced on Monday (December 13th), according to the conference calendar of the US Supreme Court.
The decision is of immense importance for the continuation of the legal disputes over the weed killer glyphosate. Bayer had brought the problems around the glyphosate-containing plant poison Roundup into the house with the over 60 billion dollar purchase of the US seed giant Monsanto.
In the application to the Supreme Court, Bayer argues with what is known as federal preemption. As a result, the Group believes that claims for damages for allegedly incorrect cancer risk warnings cannot exist under national law if they conflict with federal law. The responsible federal authority had banned such a warning.
A supreme court decision in favor of Bayer would amount to an exemption for the Dax group. The German company hopes that it will basically end the glyphosate disputes. Above all, possible future lawsuits are in focus.
In the event that the Supreme Court does not want to deal with the glyphosate case or ultimately decides against Bayer, the group had set up provisions of 4.5 billion US dollars in the summer. Bayer would then use the money to set up a program to deal with claims from new plaintiffs over the next 15 years.
Bayer had previously set aside around $ 11 billion for a settlement package to settle US lawsuits. After a basic agreement, many lawsuits with corresponding settlements have already been processed.