The US Supreme Court on Thursday ruled to rein in lawsuits alleging Bayer failed to warn users of cancer risks from its Roundup weedkiller, overturning a $1.25 million verdict in Missouri.

The 7-2 conservative-majority decision sided with Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018. The plaintiff, John Durnell, claimed years of Roundup use caused his blood cancer, citing the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer classification of glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen.

However, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not classify glyphosate as a carcinogen and has approved Roundup without a cancer warning label. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that Durnell's argument would require Monsanto to add a warning despite federal law mandating the EPA-approved label.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, calling the ruling "remarkable and regrettable" for closing courthouse doors to state tort plaintiffs. Bayer hailed the decision as "good for science, farmers and industries," while shares spiked. Critics included both Republicans and Democrats, with Rep. Nancy Mace stating "The health of the American people should come before the profits of corporate giants."

Source: www.dw.com