herbicide

Assembly Bill 1963 would sundown the use of the herbicide paraquat, which has been linked to Parkinson’s disease and other health issues, beginning in January 2026.

The bill’s legislative analysis notes that at least 10 epidemiological studies have linked paraquat exposure to Parkinson’s disease, including a 2019 meta-analysis of 13 studies that found exposure to the herbicide was associated with a 1.64-fold increase in the risk of the disease.

However, the final legislation has been amended so that it now will require the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to complete a reevaluation of the herbicide by Jan. 1, 2029, and determine whether to retain, cancel or suspend its registration, or to create new restrictions.

For a few oils, one herbicide is a particular concern.

The vast majority of soy, corn and canola in the U.S. comes from plants that have been genetically modified to resist the herbicide glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup.