French court cancels permit for Monsanto's glyphosate-based weedkiller - FreshFruitPortal.com

French court cancels permit for Monsanto's glyphosate-based weedkiller

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French court cancels permit for Monsanto's glyphosate-based weedkiller

A French court has canceled the license for one of Monsanto’s glyphosate-based weedkillers over safety concerns, placing an immediate ban on Roundup Pro 360, Reuters reported.

A court in Lyon on Tuesday ruled that the approval granted by French environment agency ANSES in 2017 for Roundup Pro 360 had failed to take into account potential health risks.

Germany’s Bayer, which bought Monsanto for US$63 billion last year, faces thousands of U.S. lawsuits by people who say its Roundup and Ranger Pro products caused their cancer.

Bayer, which said it disagreed with the decision and was considering its legal options, has cited regulatory rulings as well as scientific studies that found glyphosate to be safe.

The firm is appealing a first U.S. court ruling that awarded US$78 million in damages to a school groundskeeper from California.

“Bayer disagrees with the decision taken by the Administrative Court of Lyon to cancel the marketing authorization for RoundUp Pro 360,” it was quoted as saying in a statement.

“This product formulation, like all crop protection products, has been subject to a strict evaluation by the French authorities (ANSES), an independent body and guarantor of the public health security."

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