On My 26, Governor Phil Scott signed H. 739 into law officially outlawing the sale and use of the chemical. The legislation passed with broad bipartisan support in Vermont’s general assembly after extensive medical research linked the pesticide to a significantly increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
The new law banning the widely used weed-killing herbicide will takes effect on Nov. 1.
“There are so many factors that are pointing to the correlation … between paraquat use and Parkinson’s,” Michelle Bos-Lun, a state representative, said. “We have to do something to phase this out. Our job is to support farmers and to support all Vermonters. My belief is that paraquat is causing harm to both.”
Phased exemptions will take place to allow some continued use of paraquat. Special permits for fruit orchards, berries, and small fruits will be given until December 31, 2030.
Studies done by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) show that agricultural workers exposed to the chemical face double the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to those using other herbicides. While 74 countries have already banned paraquat globally, the EPA has permitted its use while continuing rolling reviews.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), The number of people suffering from Parkinson’s has more than doubled in the last 25 years, according to , and incidences are expected to continue to rise.
“If there is a chance that we could reduce the harm by making this step, it feels like that is a responsible thing to do,” Bos-Lun said in the committee hearing. “When I think about the people I’ve known who’ve had Parkinson’s, we want to do everything we can to avoid that. Every case that we could prevent, that would be a blessing.”
Syngenta, the manufacturer of paraquat, “has maintained that there is no credible evidence of a connection between the disease and its weedkiller,” according to The Guardian. There are more than 8,000 lawsuits pending in U.S. courts over the Parkinson’s allegations.
“Other states should follow Vermont’s lead – and the federal government has an obligation to protect all Americans with a national paraquat ban,” Dan Feehan, chief policy and government affairs officer for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), said.
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