Supreme Court to Review Bayer's Appeal in Roundup Cancer Lawsuits

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from Bayer, the manufacturer of Roundup, concerning state lawsuits alleging the weedkiller causes cancer. The court will examine whether the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval of Roundup without a cancer warning preempts state court claims.

Bayer contends that compliance with federal labeling requirements should shield it from state-level litigation. CEO Bill Anderson stated, "It is time for the U.S. legal system to establish that companies should not be punished under state laws for complying with federal warning label requirements."

The company faces approximately 181,000 claims, primarily from residential users, alleging that glyphosate, Roundup's active ingredient, is carcinogenic. While some studies associate glyphosate with cancer, the EPA has determined it is "not likely to be carcinogenic to humans" when used as directed.

In previous litigation, a Missouri jury awarded $1.25 million to a man who developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after using Roundup. Bayer has set aside $16 billion to settle cases and has ceased using glyphosate in Roundup products sold for U.S. residential use, though it remains in agricultural products.

Environmental groups have criticized Bayer's legal strategy. Lori Ann Burd, environmental health director at the Center for Biological Diversity, commented, "It's a sad day in America when our highest court agrees to consider depriving thousands of Roundup users suffering from cancer of their day in court."

The Supreme Court's decision is expected by June 2026.