Federal court judge dismisses class action linking major product ingredient to cancer
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In a decision that has sent ripples through communities, a Federal Court judge has ruled that there is insufficient evidence to link a herbicide’s active ingredient to cancer.
This landmark ruling emerged from a class action lawsuit that has been closely watched by consumers, farmers, and industry stakeholders alike.
The case, spearheaded by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, represented over 800 Australian plaintiffs who have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer affecting the lymphatic system.
They alleged that their illness was caused by exposure to glyphosate, the key ingredient in the popular weedkiller Roundup, a weed killer that has become a household name globally.
Justice Michael Lee's judgment was clear-cut: the current body of evidence does not conclusively prove that glyphosate is a carcinogen capable of causing non-Hodgkin lymphoma in humans.
This ruling focused solely on the question of general causation, meaning it did not delve into the individual circumstances of the lead applicant, Kelvin McNickle, or any other members of the class action group.
‘One thing is plain—the science is not all one way,’ he said.
The implications of this verdict are significant. For years, the safety of glyphosate has been a contentious topic, with studies and regulatory bodies offering conflicting views.
On one hand, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as 'probably carcinogenic to humans' in 2015.
On the other hand, regulatory agencies such as the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have maintained that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a cancer risk when used according to label directions.
The class action's dismissal is a victory for Bayer, the pharmaceutical giant that acquired Monsanto, the original producer of Roundup, in 2018.
The decision comes as the latest chapter in a series of legal battles that have been waged over the safety of glyphosate.
While Bayer has celebrated victories in 14 of its previous 20 cases, it has also faced significant defeats, including orders to pay out a combined $1.1 billion in damages in the United States.
Bayer has consistently defended the safety of glyphosate, citing hundreds of studies that support its stance.
The company has argued that when used as directed, glyphosate-based herbicides are safe for human use.
Have you used Roundup or other glyphosate-based products in your gardening practices? How does this ruling affect your perception of herbicide safety? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
This landmark ruling emerged from a class action lawsuit that has been closely watched by consumers, farmers, and industry stakeholders alike.
The case, spearheaded by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, represented over 800 Australian plaintiffs who have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer affecting the lymphatic system.
They alleged that their illness was caused by exposure to glyphosate, the key ingredient in the popular weedkiller Roundup, a weed killer that has become a household name globally.
The federal court dismissed a lawsuit against the company owning Roundup herbicide. Credit: Roundup
Justice Michael Lee's judgment was clear-cut: the current body of evidence does not conclusively prove that glyphosate is a carcinogen capable of causing non-Hodgkin lymphoma in humans.
This ruling focused solely on the question of general causation, meaning it did not delve into the individual circumstances of the lead applicant, Kelvin McNickle, or any other members of the class action group.
‘One thing is plain—the science is not all one way,’ he said.
The implications of this verdict are significant. For years, the safety of glyphosate has been a contentious topic, with studies and regulatory bodies offering conflicting views.
On one hand, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as 'probably carcinogenic to humans' in 2015.
On the other hand, regulatory agencies such as the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have maintained that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a cancer risk when used according to label directions.
The class action's dismissal is a victory for Bayer, the pharmaceutical giant that acquired Monsanto, the original producer of Roundup, in 2018.
The decision comes as the latest chapter in a series of legal battles that have been waged over the safety of glyphosate.
While Bayer has celebrated victories in 14 of its previous 20 cases, it has also faced significant defeats, including orders to pay out a combined $1.1 billion in damages in the United States.
Bayer has consistently defended the safety of glyphosate, citing hundreds of studies that support its stance.
The company has argued that when used as directed, glyphosate-based herbicides are safe for human use.
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