Roundup Cancer Lawsuit: What the U.S. Verdict Means for New Zealand
A Missouri court just upheld a staggering $611 million verdict against Bayer’s Monsanto unit, ruling that the company failed to warn consumers about the potential cancer risks of its popular weedkiller, Roundup.
What does the Roundup lawsuit mean for New Zealand?
A U.S. court just upheld a $611 million verdict against Bayer over Roundup’s link to cancer. Meanwhile, New Zealand is considering raising glyphosate limits on food. This legal decision casts doubt on the safety reassurances from regulators—and raises urgent questions about our own food safety policies.
This isn’t just a courtroom story from abroad—it’s a mirror. And if we look closely, it reflects a troubling disconnect between what our regulators are saying and what the rest of the world is starting to confront.
A Courtroom Reckoning—And a Crisis of Confidence
In the Missouri case, jurors were presented with evidence that Roundup may be carcinogenic—and that Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) had failed to adequately warn the public. Bayer argued that its product met U.S. regulatory standards and that federal law should shield it from lawsuits. The court rejected that argument.
Here in New Zealand, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) echoes the U.S. EPA’s position that glyphosate is safe when used as directed. Yet the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” since 2015.
So whose science are we following—and why?
The MRL Proposal: Raising Limits While the Rest of the World Reconsiders
While international headlines focus on court cases and cancer concerns, New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is proposing a significant increase in the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for glyphosate in staple crops like wheat, oats, barley, and field peas.
In some cases, this would mean allowing up to 100 times more glyphosate residue in our food than currently permitted.
Supporters of the change claim it’s about aligning with international trade standards. But the timing—just as global litigation around Roundup escalates—feels more like damage control for industry than protection for consumers.
Over 3,100 public submissions have been received opposing the proposal. And yet, MPI’s framing continues to reassure rather than reflect.
Trade, Trust, and the Cost of Inaction
This isn’t just a public health issue. It’s a trade issue. New Zealand’s agricultural economy relies on international trust and a “clean, green” image. But how long can that image last if we’re allowing more glyphosate in our food than many countries permit?
Ironically, Harraways—New Zealand’s only oat mill—has already confirmed it can meet the current lower MRLs and has no need for the change. If our own producers aren’t pushing for higher limits, then who is?
And who benefits?
Is It Time to Reconsider?
History has a way of showing us what we missed—after the harm has been done. Whether it was lead in paint, asbestos in buildings, tobacco in doctors’ offices, or trans fats in our food—regulatory bodies were consistently slow to act, often citing “insufficient evidence” until the courtroom told another story.
Now Roundup is on trial. Again. And again.
Will New Zealand wait for our own courtroom reckoning before acknowledging what mounting lawsuits, scientific debates, and international policy shifts are already telling us?
A Moment of Reckoning
When courts begin doing what regulators won’t—holding corporations accountable for failing to warn the public—it’s time to pay attention.
This $611 million verdict isn’t just a U.S. story. It’s a global signal. And for New Zealand, it’s a chance to pause, reassess, and decide: are we aligning with precaution and public interest—or with outdated science and industry reassurance?
We can’t afford to get this wrong.
Resources & References
This isn’t the final word—just a starting point. Below are resources to help you dig deeper, question further, and decide for yourself whether New Zealand is on the right path:
- Roundup Verdict Upheld – Reuters
- IARC Glyphosate Monograph – World Health Organization
- NZ EPA Glyphosate Rules and Regulations – Environmental Protection Authority
- Harraways Statement on Glyphosate – RNZ Coverage
- Critical Perspective – Why Raising MRLs Threatens Public Health
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