Roundup cancer suits blocked by Supreme Court. What's next for Bayer?

Key Points:

• The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that Bayer’s Roundup manufacturer cannot be sued under state laws for failing to warn about cancer risks, since the EPA has not required such a warning on the product label.
• The decision emphasizes federal pesticide regulations override state laws, blocking thousands of lawsuits claiming Roundup causes cancer despite contrary state claims.
• Bayer hailed the ruling as a significant limitation on litigation, while health and environmental advocates warn it restricts states’ ability to protect residents and hold corporations accountable for pesticide harms.
• The case arose after the WHO classified glyphosate, Roundup’s key ingredient, as “probably carcinogenic,” leading to numerous lawsuits including one where a jury awarded $1.25 million to a user who developed lymphoma.
• The EPA’s safety review of glyphosate is overdue following a 2022 court ruling that it inadequately assessed cancer risks, and Bayer continues to seek legislative protections amid ongoing legal challenges.