Bayer Statement on Plaintiffs’ Specific Causation Daubert Motions

The following is Bayer’s statement regarding the plaintiffs’ filing of specific causation Daubert motions in the Hardeman, Stevick and Gebeyehou v. Monsanto Co. cases, each of which is pending in the MDL in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California before Judge Vince Chhabria.

“The Court previously considered plaintiffs’ motions challenging the reliability of Monsanto’s scientific general causation experts and found they utilize ‘sufficiently reliable methods’ and their conclusions are ‘sufficiently grounded in scientific principles’ to be admissible. Bayer remains confident in the reliability of all of our scientific experts and the science behind the safety of its glyphosate-based herbicides, and believes it will ultimately be determinative in this litigation.

“Glyphosate-based herbicides have been used safely and successfully for over four decades worldwide and are a valuable tool to help farmers deliver crops to markets and practice sustainable farming by reducing soil tillage, soil erosion and carbon emissions. There is an extensive body of research on glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides, including more than 800 rigorous studies submitted to EPA, European and other regulators in connection with the registration process, that confirms that these products are safe when used as directed. Notably, the largest and most recent epidemiologic study – the 2018 independent National Cancer Institute-supported long-term study that followed over 50,000 pesticide applicators for more than 20 years and was published after the IARC monograph – found no association between glyphosate-based herbicides and cancer. Additionally, EPA’s 2017 post-IARC cancer risk assessment examined more than 100 studies the agency considered relevant and concluded that glyphosate is ‘not likely to be carcinogenic to humans,’ its most favorable rating.”