California bans paraquat, highly toxic herbicide outlawed in more than 70 countries
Reported byGuardian Environment ↗·Sourced by Goodlede
California has banned paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide used on approximately 14 million pounds annually across US wine grapes, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, pears, citrus, soybeans, cotton and other crops, primarily in California's Central Valley. The state is the US's largest user of the pesticide and largest agricultural producer. This is the second US state to prohibit paraquat, following Vermont, after the state legislature passed a 2024 law requiring re-evaluation of the substance's health risks.
The substance remains legal under US federal law; the EPA reapproved it in 2021 and 2024. Enforcement and timeline for full phase-out remain to be determined.
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