Vermont Governor Phil Scott (R) has signed a law banning paraquat, a widely used pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease and other health risks, setting a precedent for other states to follow.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Vermont has passed a law outlawing a widely used pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease, the first ban of its kind in the United States. 📺 DETAIL: Paraquat is a pesticide widely used to control weeds, grasses, and crops like grapes, potatoes, peanuts, pistachios, and soybeans. The pesticide has been banned in over 70 countries, including Britain and every European Union country since 2007. Scientific studies have consistently linked paraquat exposure to increased risks of Parkinson’s disease, as well as organ damage and various types of cancer. As such, Vermont Governor Phil Scott (R) has signed a law banning the use and sale of paraquat. The ban comes into effect on November 1, 2026. Vermont’s ban also mandates annual reporting on paraquat use across the state, as well as a state-funded study aimed at finding safer alternatives for farmers. For now, fruit farmers handling small fruit crops, berries, and orchards can request an exemption, provided they demonstrate they do not have a viable alternative, although all paraquat use in the state will be phased out by 2030. “The evidence linking paraquat exposure to increased Parkinson’s risk is strong and has been building for decades,” said Dan Feehan, Chief Policy Expert for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which researches Parkinson’s disease and contributed to the state-wide ban. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Today, I signed H.739, which phases out the use of the harmful herbicide paraquat over the coming years… I hope this can serve as a model for other states to follow.” – Vermont Governor Phil Scott 🎯 IMPACT: The ban is likely to improve the health of farmworkers and those living close to farms. Studies as far back as the 1980s have shown that farmworkers are twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease as non-farmworkers. The ban will likely increase pressure on federal regulators to reassess the pesticide’s safety at the national level. Despite the state-wide ban in Vermont, the pesticide remains one of the most widely used pesticides in the U.S. Vermont’s ban on paraquat echoes similar crusades against harmful pesticides. In late April, the House of Representatives backed a MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) amendment to remove protections for pesticide makers over health risks in a farm bill. |
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