Vermont has become the first state in the nation to ban paraquat, a widely used herbicide linked in scientific studies to Parkinson’s disease. Governor Phil Scott signed the legislation, with the ban set to take effect November 1, 2026. The law includes limited temporary exemptions for certain fruit crops through 2030. The move comes amid growing national scrutiny surrounding paraquat as researchers continue examining potential links between long-term exposure and Parkinson’s disease, particularly among agricultural workers and chemical applicators. Studies cited by the National Institutes of Health have found that paraquat users may be about 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Although paraquat remains legal in the U.S., over 70 countries, including China and members of the European Union, have already banned the chemical. The debate intensified after Syngenta announced it would stop manufacturing and seeking sales of paraquat products in the U.S.
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