Stop the Pesticide Liability Shield in Kentucky

On March 5, the Kentucky Senate passed SB 199, which would shield pesticide manufacturers from civil liability from harms to the citizens of theour state caused by numerous chemicals.

The bill is now headed to the House where it’s likely to be heard this Wednesday, March 11 by the Agriculture Committee. We need to contact all committee members and urge them to oppose this dangerous legislation.

Please email the committee members, and also call 800-372-7181. Ask to leave a message for all members of the House Agriculture Committee: “Vote no on SB199. Protect my ability to hold pesticide manufacturers accountable when they hide known harms from their products. This bill goes way beyond farmers.” Or leave a simple message in your own words.

Introduced in Kentucky with the support of chemical and pharmaceutical giant Bayer, SB 199 undermines a fundamental constitutional protection allowing citizens to seek justice when injured by a commercial product.

SB 199 holds that if the EPA approved a pesticide label, that label automatically counts as a legal warning in Kentucky so that pesticide companies cannot be sued for failing to warn people of health risks associated with their products. The only way a company could lose this protection is if the EPA formally declares the company committed fraud –  which virtually never happens.

Under this structure, pesticide and other chemical producers could not be held accountable for harms to consumers, even if companies knew their products could cause serious harm. People who develop cancer, neurological damage, birth defects or other injuries following exposure could be blocked from suing because the EPA approved the label.

Let the Agriculture Committee know that industry profits should never take priority over the health of Kentucky families.