SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation late Friday that will require the state’s Department of Pesticide Regulation, or DPR, to prioritize the scientific reevaluation of the toxic weedkiller paraquat.
Scientific research shows paraquat exposure significantly increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease and other severe health issues, including cancer. The law, A.B. 1963, requires DPR to formally reevaluate paraquat by January 1, 2029, much sooner than its typical timeline. Some reviews languish for more than two decades.
“This is a very real win,” said Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Burbank), who authored the legislation. “The legislature provided additional funding this year for the Department of Pesticide Regulation with the requirement that they do more re-evaluations of toxic chemicals. Paraquat will be at the top of that re-evaluation list.
“With the mounting medical evidence indicating that paraquat is simply too toxic to remain in wide use, I am very confident that DPR will not only do a thorough re-evaluation of paraquat, but either ban it outright or place greater restrictions on its use,” she added.
“This law mandates the state to consider all available scientific evidence in deciding whether to restrict most or all uses of the highly toxic herbicide in California agriculture,” said Bill Allayaud, EWG’s vice president for California government affairs.
Julia Pitcher, director of state government relations for The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, stated, “We applaud Gov. Newsom for signing this into law and encouraged by the progress being made in California setting the example for other states to act when it comes to evaluating the safety and toxicity of chemicals with long-term neurological and other health implications.”
A.B. 2113, signed by Newsom in June, gives DPR additional resources through a minor increase in pesticide registration and sales fees, allowing them to step up the pace of scientific reevaluations.
In August, EWG and The Michael J. Fox Foundation launched a campaign urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ban paraquat nationwide. The agency has until mid-January to decide. It has already been banned in more than 70 other countries, including the European Union and China.
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
