IA Grants Legal Immunity to Pesticide Companies

Iowa Senate approves bill protecting pesticide makers from legal action

A piece of legislation that would shield pesticide manufacturers from civil lawsuits, despite the health risks associated with the products, was given the Iowa Senate's stamp of approval Tuesday.

Senate File 2412 states that so long as any pesticide is approved by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, which must bear a federally-approved safety warning label, it has given sufficient warning of the potential health risks.

Certain chemicals used by farmers and landowners across Iowa, like Roundup and Paraquat, have been found to increase the risk of developing health problems, according to Andrew Mertens with the Iowa Association for Justice.