Image: ln24SA
A French court has rejected a case brought by a family against Bayer, the company that makes the herbicide glyphosate. The family claimed that their son’s disabilities were caused by the mother’s exposure to glyphosate during pregnancy. However, the court found the complaint to be inadmissible, according to local media.
Bayer responded by saying it accepted the court’s decision and noted that the ruling did not hold the company responsible.
The family’s lawyers expressed disappointment, saying the case deserved to be heard by an appeals court. This lawsuit was one of the first major cases in France to focus on a possible link between prenatal exposure to glyphosate and birth defects.
Some studies have suggested that glyphosate exposure during pregnancy might affect a baby’s health, but successful legal actions on this basis have been rare. Bayer continues to claim that glyphosate is safe for humans.
The company has already paid around $10 billion to settle lawsuits in the U.S. related to claims that its glyphosate-based product, Roundup, causes cancer.
In 2023, the European Union renewed its approval for the use of glyphosate until the end of 2033.
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