Farmers and others in agriculture applaud Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly for supporting the crop protection tools so important to Georgia’s farmers’ ability to produce affordable, safe, abundant food. With Governor Kemp signing SB 144, Georgia has taken the step to re-affirm the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) scientific rulings on the safety of crop protection products.

“The signing of SB 144 by Governor Kemp demonstrates that Georgia stands with its farmers, who work tirelessly to produce safe and affordable food for communities throughout the state. We thank Governor Kemp and the legislators, farmers and ag groups that supported this important piece of legislation,” said Brian Naber, president, Crop Science North America & Australia/New Zealand Region. “At Bayer, we are committed to developing agricultural innovations that help farmers thrive. This is important not only for Georgia’s farmers and American agriculture, but also the everyday American worried about the cost of groceries, which could increase if these vital tools went away. We hope states around the country considering similar legislation will also support farmers and the tools critical to their success.”

This legislation would directly address – and reinforce – the integrity of the regulatory process and ensure that the EPA’s thorough and scientifically based conclusion are adhered to and would further reinforce the health and safety warning labels, which are supported by an extensive regulatory process.

We hope the courts will apply this legislation appropriately. Ultimately it will be up to the courts to decide on how they interpret the law, but we’re optimistic that it will reinforce the legal certainty regarding claims about the warning label.

The passage of SB 144 is possible because of the efforts from lawmakers, commodity groups, farmers and Georgians alike who are committed to the success of Georgia’s farms, which along with related industries contribute more than $91 billion to the state’s economy.

Glyphosate-based herbicides have revolutionized farming by effectively and safely managing weeds, which are among the biggest factors impacting farm yields and the ability to use sustainable farming methods. Like all crop protection products, glyphosate has been subject to rigorous testing and oversight and the EPA and all leading regulatory bodies around the world have repeatedly found glyphosate-based products are safe to use as directed. The newly passed legislation ensures that when the EPA makes its scientifically based conclusions about the label required for a product, that stands and is consistently adhered to.

To learn more about glyphosate, visit: https://www.bayer.com/en/truth-about-glyphosate