Lawsuit in France Over Birth Defects Linked to Glyphosate

A significant legal case has emerged in France, where a woman is suing Bayer, the manufacturer of the herbicide glyphosate, following the birth of her son with severe disabilities. The incident occurred when the mother applied glyphosate on a riding school's arena while unknowingly pregnant. The child, named Theo, was born without vocal cords and has had to undergo 55 surgical procedures since his birth.

The lawsuit was initiated in the town of Vienne, and it marks a pivotal moment in legal discussions surrounding glyphosate's health impacts. The family of Theo is aiming for recognition that his disabilities are a direct result of glyphosate exposure during pregnancy. Their attorney, Bertrand Repolt, emphasized the potential for this case to set a precedent in similar legal matters.

Glyphosate, commonly found in herbicides like Bayer's Roundup, has faced numerous lawsuits related to cancer risks. However, this is the first case addressing congenital disabilities linked to the chemical. The mother, Sabine Grataloup, expressed her hope that the court will acknowledge the company's negligence in downplaying the risks associated with glyphosate, which has facilitated its widespread use in multiple countries.

In 2006, Grataloup used the herbicide without knowledge of her pregnancy. Theo was born with a fused trachea and esophagus, leading to numerous surgeries to correct the malformations. The family had previously filed a lawsuit against Monsanto, the company that developed glyphosate and was acquired by Bayer, arguing that the product labeling failed to warn about potential dangers to unborn children.

In 2022, a French fund for pesticide victims recognized a link between Theo's birth defects and the use of glyphosate, leading to monthly compensation of EUR1,000 for the family. Glyphosate remains the most widely used pesticide ingredient globally, despite growing concerns about its health effects. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as 'probably carcinogenic.' However, it noted that this classification does not definitively imply that glyphosate use causes cancer.

In France, glyphosate has been banned for private use since 2018, although its authorization in Europe was renewed in late 2023 under specific conditions and restrictions. The ongoing case in Vienne could lead to significant implications for how glyphosate is regulated and could influence future legal actions regarding its safety.