RoundUp Weed Killer

In light of three consecutive verdicts totaling $2.2 billion in the Nothern California linking the weed killer Roundup to cancer, two Australian firms are now considering filing lawsuits against Roundup manufacturer Monsanto Co.. Meanwhile, the government in the Australian state of Victoria is launching an investigation into the use of glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide globally and the main ingredient of Roundup.

Sydney-based LHD Lawyers is considering a class action against Monsanto, which German pharmaceutical giant Bayer A.G. acquired in June of last year for $63 billion, while local media reports say Melbourne-based Maurice Blackburn is evaluating individual cases.

Meanwhile, the Victoria state government is investigating the use of glyphosate, including that by Roundup, across its public land management, according to Melbourne-based newspaper The Age. The investigation, which is being conducted by Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, is expected to last six weeks. It is the first by an Australian state government in the wake of a series of verdicts in U.S. courts, according to the newspaper.

The developments come about three weeks after Monsanto was hit with a $2.05 billion punitive damages verdict by a jury in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland, California—the largest U.S. jury verdict so far against the company over glyphosate's linkage to a form of blood cancer. Previously, Monsanto was struck initially with a $289 million verdict in August, though that was reduced to $78.5 million; and $80 million in March, both in San Francisco.

Bayer said it will appeal the $2.05 billion verdict.

Globally, a number of countries and jurisdictions have either banned the use of glyphosate or have restricted its use. These include Belgium, France, Italy, Canada, Argentina, Colombia, the Czech Republic and Denmark.

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