New Bill Would Let Victims Sue Pesticide Makers in Federal Court
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A proposed federal law would make it easier for people harmed by pesticide exposure to take legal action against manufacturers.
Introduced by Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, the Pesticide Accountability Act would ensure that people who develop serious health conditions like cancer or Parkinson’s disease after exposure to pesticides can hold companies legally responsible, even if state laws block such lawsuits.
“Rather than providing a liability shield so that foreign corporations are allowed to poison the American people, Congress should instead pass the Pesticide Injury Accountability Act to ensure that these chemical companies can be held accountable in federal court for the harm caused by their toxic products,” Booker said in a statement when announcing the bill.
Booker introduced the bill in response to increasing pressure from agricultural giants like Bayer and Syngenta, which have supported efforts to pass state laws that shield them from lawsuits.
Bayer is headquartered in Germany and acquired Monsanto, the original manufacturer of Roundup, in 2018. Syngenta, the maker of paraquat-based herbicides, is owned by ChemChina.
The bill would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to create a “right of action” that ensures people can hold pesticide makers liable, even when state laws prevent them from filing claims.
States Passing Laws To Limit Accountability
Georgia and North Dakota have passed laws that prevent people from suing pesticide companies as long as their products comply with federal labeling standards. These laws effectively bar legal action, even when evidence shows that the product contributed to someone’s illness.
The legal rationale behind these state laws is that the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of a product’s label should be the final word on safety warnings.
However, farmers, agricultural workers and people who used these chemicals at home have filed lawsuits against companies like Bayer.
“People exposed to and suffering from the health effects of toxic chemicals should not be denied their right to seek justice,” said Geoff Horsfield, Policy Director at Environmental Working Group, during the bill’s announcement.
“We applaud Senator Booker for his efforts to protect the rights of farmers, rural communities, workers, children and families.”
Bayer and Syngenta Face Ongoing Legal Battles
Thousands of lawsuits have been filed alleging that long-term exposure to popular pesticides led to serious health complications.
Syngenta paid $187.5 million in 2021 to settle claims linking paraquat to Parkinson’s disease. Bayer has also spent billions in settlements related to Roundup lawsuits and its controversial ingredient, glyphosate. Plaintiffs say the chemical caused their non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
In May, a $611 million judgment against Bayer concerning Roundup’s link to cancer was upheld by the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals.
In mid-2025, Syngenta reached a confidential settlement in a case brought by a Pennsylvania farmer who said decades of paraquat exposure caused his Parkinson’s. The lawsuit was resolved shortly before the trial was set to begin.
There are currently more than 6,000 paraquat-related cases consolidated in federal multidistrict litigation. A tentative settlement agreement was submitted in April 2025, but it remains unresolved.
Health Risks From Pesticides Continue To Raise Concerns
Two herbicides, glyphosate and paraquat, have become central to ongoing litigation due to their alleged links to chronic disease.
Although Roundup’s formula has been updated in recent years, some newer versions contain diquat.
This chemical has also raised concerns about its potential to cause cancer or Parkinson’s disease.
“Granting legal immunity to pesticide manufacturers would leave farmers and their families with no way to seek justice after suffering health or crop damage from these chemicals,” said Kelly Ryerson, Co-Founder of American Regeneration, in the bill’s announcement. “Farmers have a right to hold companies accountable and protect their livelihoods from devastating illness.”
People are still filing lawsuits against both agrochemical companies.
