January 14, 2026“New science” isn’t needed to ban paraquat in the U.S.
EPA safety reassessment of paraquat is another delay tactic
STATEMENT
On January 9, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that EPA would “freshly reassess the safety” of paraquat using “gold standard science,” although EPA has yet to issue an official announcement committing to new action. Coming Clean, Pesticide Action and Agroecology Network, and Alianza Nacional de Campesinas responded with the following statement:
“EPA doesn’t need to wait for new science to ban paraquat in the United States. Credible research meeting EPA’s “gold standard” tenets has already been submitted to EPA’s public docket demonstrating that exposure to paraquat causes harm to farmworkers, farmers, and rural communities, and that its continued registration for use poses an unreasonable risk to these communities. Study after study has shown that people who use or are exposed to paraquat are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease and other adverse health conditions. The evidence of harm is strong enough that over 70 countries have already banned this toxic pesticide from use. Meanwhile, EPA has declined to review this evidence. Now, by suggesting that we need to wait for “accurate new studies [to] reveal additional risk,” EPA is attempting to push the regulatory reset button to buy chemical corporations profiting from paraquat sales more time. EPA may also be opening the door for additional research utilizing New Approach Methods (NAMs) that is not yet capable of demonstrating chemical safety. Instead of further delays, EPA should act with foresight now on the first-hand testimonies and peer reviewed studies that already exist, before more people are harmed.”