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California announces voluntary cancellation of common commercial pesticide
State regulators said manufacturers voluntarily withdrew registrations after findings linked the herbicide to thyroid problems, birth defects and wildlife harm.
- California will phase out paraquat after all manufacturers voluntarily canceled their product registrations this week. The state's action follows the California Department of Pesticide Regulation's demand for scientific data on the widely used herbicide.
- Legislation from former Assemblymember Laura Friedman, D-Glendale, prompted regulators to reevaluate paraquat in 2024, identifying potential associations between the pesticide and birth defects, thyroid impacts, and Parkinson's disease.
- A March spill in Dorris prompted authorities to lock down 600 homes as a precaution. California is the nation's largest paraquat user, with millions of pounds sprayed annually on crops in the San Joaquin Valley.
- The Parkinson's Foundation said Tuesday that California's action is a "major victory for Parkinson's prevention." The California Farm Bureau warned the phaseout will complicate the marketplace, leaving growers with fewer tools and higher costs.
- Under state law, dealers may continue using existing supplies for up to two years following the effective date of cancellation. California joins Vermont and more than 60 countries that have already banned the herbicide due to toxicity.
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left5Leaning Right1Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
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- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 42%
C 50%
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