A landmark court case is to proceed in France early next year, holding agricultural chemical company, Monsanto responsible for cancer in a number of farmers who used their herbicides. If Monsanto is found guilty it will open a path for litigation around the world against chemical companies that produce sprays using known carcinogens.

The French case has been brought by a Charentais farmer, Paul Françoise who is a leader of a French group, the Association of Phyto-Victims. The group has been agitating for government recognition of the risk to human health by use of agricultural chemicals, and this case is its latest action.

The specific target of Françoise' action is Monsanto's "Lasso" herbicide. This product is made from 2-Chloro-2'-6'-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)-acetanilide (56) (alachlor) and was widely used in Europe before it was banned in 2006.

A class 3 carcinogen it is considered harmful, sensitising, and dangerous for the environment.

The Lyon High Court has agreed to hear the case, which has been scheduled for 13th February 2012.

Françoise' counsel, M. Lafforgue claimed that in spite of the EU ban Monsanto, "Has made every attempt to keep Lasso on the market". He also said that Monsato had ignored evidence from as early as 1980 about the heaklth risks of Lasso, and displayed recless regard for human health in spite of bans on the product in Canada and England before its EU ban.

Defense counsel, Jean Philippe Delart for Monsanto arugued that there were no witbnesses of the event that Françoise claimed caused his health problems, and there was no evidence linking these to Lasso.

One of the principal witnesses for the prosecution, winegrower Frédéric Ferrand , died on Sunday of cancer at 41. He also claimed his death is the responsibility of Monsanto.