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Complaint

ECCHR et al. vs. Bayer AG

Human rights and environmental impacts of Bayer’s genetically modified soy seeds and glyphosate-based pesticides in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay

Date filed
25 April 2024
Keywords
Countries of harm
Current status
Filed
Sector
NCP

Allegations

On 25 April 2024, a coalition of six civil society organisations (European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), Fundación TIERRA, Terra de Direitos, Base Investigaciones Sociales (BASE IS), and Bischöfliches Hilfswerk Misereor) filed a complaint to the German NCP against Bayer AG. The complaint alleges that Bayer has not conducted adequate human rights and environmental due diligence on impacts related to its genetically modified (GM) soy and pesticides value chains in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay, and that Bayer is contributing to actual impacts on rural and indigenous communities, including on the rights to a healthy, clean, and sustainable environment, health, and an adequate standard of living, including the rights to land and food. According to the complainants, Indigenous, rural and semi-rural communities living in soy cultivation areas in the four countries are experiencing impacts as a result of Bayer’s agro-industrial model based on high levels of land concentration, GM soy seed cultivation and the intensive use of toxic pesticides.

The complainants are seeking improvement of Bayer’s overall due diligence processes and practices. As part of that due diligence, they ask for Bayer to consult and engage with impacted rights-holders and their representatives in the order to determine remedy, and to restore water quality alone or in cooperation with others in the areas of interest.

Relevant OECD Guidelines

More details

Defendant
Company in violation
Complainants
Affected people

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