Missouri Court Upholds $611M Roundup Verdict – Why Are New Zealand Consumers Still Left Without Warning Labels?
The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld a US$611 million verdict against Bayer's Roundup weedkiller, reinforcing juries' findings that glyphosate exposure can cause cancer. The case centred on the company's failure to warn consumers, a right New Zealanders still lack as Roundup products continue to be sold here with no cancer warnings or safety notices.
Read the full analysis here: https://nomoreglyphosate.nz/bayer-verdict-nz-roundup-warning-labels/
The U.S. ruling, one of the largest upheld against Bayer, involved three plaintiffs who successfully argued that years of Roundup use contributed to their non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. While U.S. courts are increasingly holding Bayer accountable, New Zealand consumers face store shelves stocked with Roundup — yet without any health warnings, handouts, or point-of-sale notices.
“If cigarettes, alcohol, and even energy drinks carry mandatory health warnings, why should Roundup — a product repeatedly linked to cancer in courtrooms overseas — be treated differently in New Zealand?”
The issue is not whether Roundup is banned tomorrow, but whether New Zealanders are given the same right to be warned as consumers elsewhere. At present, families, home gardeners, and school groundskeepers are left exposed without the ability to make an informed choice.
Real Lives, Real Risks
The lack of warnings isn't just a regulatory gap — it affects real people. One New Zealand family recently shared how their son, hired to spray gorse on a dairy farm, was given no protective equipment. When he requested safety gear, the farm owner refused. Faced with protecting his health and his young family, he quit. His wife was eight months pregnant at the time.
“Stories like this underline why warning labels matter. Without them, families are left to guess the risks only after it's too late.”
A Simple Fix
Consumer protections that are standard for tobacco, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals could be applied immediately to glyphosate products:
- Clear health warnings on packaging
- Point-of-sale notices in hardware stores
- Safety handouts with each purchase
Public awareness campaigns, particularly where glyphosate is used in schools and communities.
About NoMoreGlyphosate.nz
NoMoreGlyphosate.nz is a grassroots, New Zealand-based campaign dedicated to raising awareness of glyphosate's health and environmental risks. Through independent testing, research, and public advocacy, the campaign seeks stronger consumer protections, regulatory accountability, and safer alternatives for families, farmers, and communities.
For more information, visit: https://nomoreglyphosate.nz
