Georgia has become the second U.S. state to pass legislation that protects pesticide manufacturers like Bayer from lawsuits accusing them of failing to warn customers about potential health risks from products like the widely used Roundup weed killer.
Signed into law on Friday by Governor Brian Kemp, the new law shields Bayer from claims that it didn’t properly warn consumers about the cancer risks associated with Roundup, a product that has been central to legal battles for years. The law, which mirrors similar protections in North Dakota, essentially safeguards any pesticide company that complies with federal labeling requirements, offering them protection from a variety of lawsuits related to the cancer risks linked to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup.
A Win for Bayer and the Pesticide Industry
This legislation is a major win for Bayer, the German chemical giant that owns Roundup through its acquisition of Monsanto in 2018. Following the deal, Bayer faced a deluge of lawsuits claiming that glyphosate, a key ingredient in Roundup, is linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. While Bayer has maintained that Roundup is safe, it has been entangled in over 67,000 ongoing legal claims, part of a broader wave of more than 181,000 lawsuits.
With Georgia now on board, the company finds itself with greater protection from future legal battles in the state. A Bayer spokesperson confirmed on Monday that they are still assessing how many of these claims are specifically tied to Georgia, but the new law offers a significant buffer.
For advocates of pesticide safety and consumer protection, however, the law has stirred significant concerns. Critics argue that these legal shields could leave consumers vulnerable to dangerous chemicals, particularly when companies can claim compliance with federal standards without sufficient scrutiny of their health effects.
The Ripple Effect Across the U.S.
Georgia’s move to protect Bayer marks the second such law passed this year after North Dakota’s governor signed a similar bill last month. These laws are part of a broader push by some state governments to curb the flood of lawsuits targeting pesticide manufacturers. At least nine other states are considering similar legislation in 2025, signaling a potentially growing trend in agricultural and chemical industry protections.
Supporters of the legislation argue that it’s a necessary step to prevent unwarranted lawsuits and to ensure the agricultural industry continues to thrive without the constant threat of expensive legal claims. The bills are seen as a response to the wave of litigation that has plagued Bayer and Monsanto in the wake of mounting allegations regarding the carcinogenic effects of glyphosate.
Proponents believe that the federal approval process for pesticides should be the gold standard for safety, and compliance with federal labeling requirements should shield companies from state-level lawsuits. They emphasize that glyphosate has been deemed safe by regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which found no conclusive link to cancer when used according to guidelines.
Opposition and Concerns Over Consumer Safety
On the other side of the debate, critics argue that these new laws put consumer safety at risk by protecting corporations from lawsuits that could potentially uncover serious health risks. The legal battles surrounding Roundup have centered on claims that the company failed to adequately inform consumers about the risks associated with its product.
Several plaintiffs who have taken action against Bayer have successfully won cases, arguing that the company ignored or downplayed the potential dangers of glyphosate. The most high-profile of these cases resulted in multi-million-dollar jury awards, prompting Bayer to announce large settlement agreements in the past few years to resolve a portion of its cases. Still, many remain pending.
Environmental groups and public health advocates argue that such laws undermine consumer rights and could lead to more harmful chemicals entering the marketplace unchecked. They contend that states should be able to hold companies accountable if they fail to properly disclose risks that could harm public health.
The Legal Landscape for Roundup Lawsuits
Despite the new protections for pesticide companies, lawsuits related to Roundup are far from over. With more than 67,000 claims still unresolved, Bayer faces the potential of ongoing legal battles, even with the new shields in place. Legal experts note that, while the new laws may provide some relief, they don’t completely eliminate the possibility of future lawsuits, especially if plaintiffs can demonstrate that the federal labeling requirements were violated.
For Bayer, the situation remains complex. The company’s acquisition of Monsanto was supposed to be a strategic move to expand its presence in the agricultural industry, but it has come with unforeseen complications. Legal experts say that the mounting costs of defending these lawsuits, along with reputational damage, have put a strain on the company’s resources.
Bayer has continued to fight back against claims that glyphosate causes cancer, citing studies from regulators who have found no definitive connection between the weed killer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, the court of public opinion has been less forgiving, with growing public awareness of the issue and continued scrutiny of the agricultural industry.
Will Other States Follow Georgia’s Lead?
With Georgia and North Dakota setting the precedent, many are watching closely to see whether other states will follow suit. The push for these laws comes at a time when the nation is grappling with rising litigation costs in the chemical and agricultural sectors, with companies lobbying for stronger legal protections against what they consider to be frivolous lawsuits.
The outcome of these legal battles will likely set the tone for the future of pesticide-related litigation in the U.S. How courts rule in these cases will determine whether Bayer and other pesticide companies can escape the growing tide of claims, or whether consumer protection laws will take precedence in the coming years.
Georgia’s legislation marks a pivotal moment in this ongoing legal and political struggle, and its impact will be felt far beyond the state’s borders as other regions grapple with similar concerns. The balance between consumer protection and corporate liability will continue to shape the debate in the coming years, with many stakeholders on both sides of the issue.
