Germany plans to ban Roundup weedkiller in 2023
Germany plans to ban the use of glyphosate by the end of 2023, it was reported today in the latest blow against Bayer’s controversial Roundup weedkiller.
Sources told Reuters that the country’s government is drawing up plans to phase out the chemical, which is the key component of Roundup.
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It was developed more than 40 years ago by Monsanto, which was bought by Bayer last year. But in 2015 the World Health Organisation concluded that glyphosate probably causes cancer.
The German chemicals giant yesterday said it disagreed with the government’s plan to ban the chemical.
“Such a ban would ignore the overwhelming scientific assessments of competent authorities around the world that have determined for more than 40 years that glyphosate can be used safely,” Bayer said.
However the company has already set billions of euros to deal with thousands of lawsuits from victims claiming that the chemical gave them cancer.
In May a California couple were awarded $2bn (£1.5bn) in damages over claims that Roundup caused their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Read more: Bayer shares hit after $2bn payout to couple in Roundup weedkiller case
Germany would not become the first country to ban the controversial chemical.
Earlier this year Austria passed a bill banning glyphosate, while 20 French mayors banned it from their areas last month, in defiance of the government.
Shares in Bayer were up 1.8 per cent today.