France, April 3 -- The German chemical company Bayer is in a French court Thursday to face accusations by a French family that its glyphosate-based herbicide caused birth defects in their son.

Glyphosate is the most used herbicide in the world, and the company has paid out billions of euros in compensation for cancer-related cases, but this is the first case to connect the chemical with birth defects.

Theo Grataloup, 17, who was born with severe abnormalities of the oesophagus and larynx, said he represents all those with birth defects.

Grataloup, who spoke to the AFP news agency Thursday morning before entering the courtroom in Vienne, eastern France, said the case could "set a legal precedent" and "allow other victims to go to court ...