OPPOSE:  Pesticide Immunity – Sec. 10204 [Farm Bill] 

OPPOSE: H.R. 8467 – The Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024, Section 10204 – Uniformity of Pesticide, Labeling and Requirements 

This section “prohibits the right to sue for failure to warn when harmed by pesticides.” In Section 10204 of the House Farm Bill, language shields (gives immunity) to the producers and users of toxic pesticides from liability lawsuits associated with the harm that their products cause. The provision will block lawsuits like those successfully advanced against Bayer/Monsanto for adverse health effects, like cancer, associated with exposure to their products and companies’ failure to warn about these effects on EPA approved labels.”[1] This section prohibits local and state governments from passing pesticide ordinances that are more stringent than federal regulations and policy.  

The most successful cause of action used against pesticide manufacturers injury is the failure to warn. 

Please review Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (7 USC 136v(6) Section 10204. This section is similar to an Iowa bill designed to create immunity for pesticide manufacturers. The Senate has not published their version of the Farm Bill; for those concerned about pesticide harms it should be a high priority to make sure something like section 10204 does not get in the Senate Farm Bill or the final bill.  

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[1] Daily News Blog. (2024, June 25). GOP Senate Farm Bill Framework, Similar to 

House Bill, Elevates Threat to Health, Biodiversity, and Climate. Beyond Pesticides. https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2024/06/gop-senate-farm-bill-framework-similar-to-house-bill-cited-as-elevated-threats-to-health-biodiversity-and-climate/