In an effort to fend off legal challenges, several states are considering legislation that would protect pesticide manufacturers like Bayer from being sued over health claims.
Nick Tabor reports for The New Republic.
In short:
- Bayer is lobbying for laws in Missouri, Idaho, and Iowa to shield itself from lawsuits related to its product Roundup, which plaintiffs claim causes cancer and Parkinson's disease.
- The proposed bills would prevent individuals from suing if a product's label has been approved by the EPA, despite allegations of lax federal regulations on pesticides.
- Bayer, along with other pesticide producers, argues that these measures are necessary to protect the agriculture industry from losing critical products, though critics see this as an evasion of accountability.
Key quote:
"A company that has no fear of liability is a very scary thing."
— Nathan Donley, senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity
Why this matters:
The debate over these bills touches on the issue of how we regulate potentially harmful substances and the power corporations have to influence that process. For those concerned about public health and the integrity of environmental protections, the outcome could set a precedent for how companies are held responsible for the safety of their products.
