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Paul Francois (Photo: phyto-victimes.fr)
Court Affirms Monsanto's Guilt in Poisoning of French Farmer
French court upholds 2012 ruling that holds agrichemical giant fully responsible for damages
Sep 11, 2015
A French court on Thursday upheld a prior ruling which found agrichemical giant Monsanto guilty of poisoning a farmer who inhaled the company's Lasso herbicide and ordered the company to fully compensate the man for the neurological problems, headaches, and memory loss he has endured.
The appeals court in Lyon affirmed a previous 2012 court decision--the first of its kind--which found Monsanto "responsible" for poisoning Paul Francois, a grain grower who was exposed to the chemical on his farm in 2004. Francois says the company did not provide adequate warning labels for Lasso.
Francois was reportedly pleased with Thursday's ruling, declaring it to be proof that "David can win against Goliath... And a giant like Monsanto is not above the law."
Monsanto, however, has vowed to appeal the ruling to France's highest appeals court.
Used since the 1960s, Lasso was banned in France in 2007, following earlier prohibitions in Canada, Belgium, and Britain due to the health risks it poses.
Monsanto now widely produces another herbicide, known as Roundup, which contains the ingredient glyphosate that was recently declared by the research arm of the World Health Organization has to be a "probably carcinogen" for humans.
In June, France ceased over-the-counter sales of Roundup over concerns about its health impacts, but Roundup is still one of the most widely-used herbicides in the United States.
Earlier this week, California's Environmental Protection Agency revealed that it will also soon start labeling glyphosate a "probable carcinogenic."
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A French court on Thursday upheld a prior ruling which found agrichemical giant Monsanto guilty of poisoning a farmer who inhaled the company's Lasso herbicide and ordered the company to fully compensate the man for the neurological problems, headaches, and memory loss he has endured.
The appeals court in Lyon affirmed a previous 2012 court decision--the first of its kind--which found Monsanto "responsible" for poisoning Paul Francois, a grain grower who was exposed to the chemical on his farm in 2004. Francois says the company did not provide adequate warning labels for Lasso.
Francois was reportedly pleased with Thursday's ruling, declaring it to be proof that "David can win against Goliath... And a giant like Monsanto is not above the law."
Monsanto, however, has vowed to appeal the ruling to France's highest appeals court.
Used since the 1960s, Lasso was banned in France in 2007, following earlier prohibitions in Canada, Belgium, and Britain due to the health risks it poses.
Monsanto now widely produces another herbicide, known as Roundup, which contains the ingredient glyphosate that was recently declared by the research arm of the World Health Organization has to be a "probably carcinogen" for humans.
In June, France ceased over-the-counter sales of Roundup over concerns about its health impacts, but Roundup is still one of the most widely-used herbicides in the United States.
Earlier this week, California's Environmental Protection Agency revealed that it will also soon start labeling glyphosate a "probable carcinogenic."
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
A French court on Thursday upheld a prior ruling which found agrichemical giant Monsanto guilty of poisoning a farmer who inhaled the company's Lasso herbicide and ordered the company to fully compensate the man for the neurological problems, headaches, and memory loss he has endured.
The appeals court in Lyon affirmed a previous 2012 court decision--the first of its kind--which found Monsanto "responsible" for poisoning Paul Francois, a grain grower who was exposed to the chemical on his farm in 2004. Francois says the company did not provide adequate warning labels for Lasso.
Francois was reportedly pleased with Thursday's ruling, declaring it to be proof that "David can win against Goliath... And a giant like Monsanto is not above the law."
Monsanto, however, has vowed to appeal the ruling to France's highest appeals court.
Used since the 1960s, Lasso was banned in France in 2007, following earlier prohibitions in Canada, Belgium, and Britain due to the health risks it poses.
Monsanto now widely produces another herbicide, known as Roundup, which contains the ingredient glyphosate that was recently declared by the research arm of the World Health Organization has to be a "probably carcinogen" for humans.
In June, France ceased over-the-counter sales of Roundup over concerns about its health impacts, but Roundup is still one of the most widely-used herbicides in the United States.
Earlier this week, California's Environmental Protection Agency revealed that it will also soon start labeling glyphosate a "probable carcinogenic."
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