As India reviews the sale and use of crop protection chemicals Paraquat Dichloride and Carbosulfan following restrictions in Telangana and concerns over poisoning deaths, the US state of Vermont has become the first state in America to ban paraquat, citing growing scientific evidence linking the herbicide to Parkinson’s disease.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed the legislation this week, with the ban set to take effect from November 1, 2026. The law allows limited exemptions for certain fruit crops until the end of 2030 and mandates annual reporting of paraquat use along with a state-funded study on safer alternatives for farmers.
The move comes amid mounting global scrutiny of paraquat, one of the world’s most widely used weed-killing chemicals. The herbicide has long been used in crops such as soybeans, cotton, corn, grapes and peanuts in the United States, while in India it is widely used in tea, cotton, potato, maize, coffee, rubber and plantation crops.
Supporters of the Vermont ban cited multiple scientific studies, including research backed by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), which suggest paraquat exposure substantially increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder caused by degeneration of dopamine-producing brain cells.
“There are so many factors that are pointing to the correlation between paraquat use and Parkinson’s,” Vermont state representative Michelle Bos-Lun said during legislative discussions. “We have to do something to phase this out.”
The issue has also intensified legal and regulatory pressure on agrochemical major Syngenta AG, one of the key manufacturers of paraquat for decades. More than 8,000 lawsuits are currently pending in US courts alleging that long-term exposure to paraquat caused Parkinson’s disease and that companies failed to adequately warn users of the risks.
Investigative reports published by The Guardian and The New Lede based on internal corporate records alleged that Syngenta and predecessor companies had long discussed concerns about links between paraquat and neurological diseases. The reports claimed the company attempted to downplay scientific findings and influence regulatory decisions to protect sales of the herbicide.
However, Syngenta has consistently denied any proven link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. The company has maintained that there is no credible scientific evidence establishing causation between its product and the neurological disorder.
In April this year, Syngenta announced it would stop manufacturing paraquat and discontinue sales of paraquat products in the United States and some other markets, though generic versions of the chemical continue to remain available from other manufacturers.
The debate around paraquat has now gained significance in India as the Government reviews the continued use of Paraquat Dichloride and Carbosulfan following pesticide poisoning incidents and restrictions imposed in Telangana.
Industry body CropLife India has strongly opposed any abrupt ban, arguing that restrictions on the products would not address the root causes of farmer suicides and may instead worsen economic distress among farmers.
According to CropLife India, studies show that debt, crop failure, lack of alternative income opportunities and climate-related losses remain the primary drivers of farmer suicides rather than access to pesticides.
Citing a 2024 study published in the Indian Journal of Community Medicine, the industry body said economic distress and debt traps were identified as the central reasons behind farmer suicides in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
CropLife India also referred to research by the International Institute for Environment and Development, which found a strong correlation between rainfall deficits and rising farmer suicides in major agricultural states.
“While debating any product, we are deviating from the key concern of farmer suicides,” said Ankur Aggarwal, Chairman of CropLife India and Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Crystal Crop Protection Ltd.
“The debt, the failed crop and the fear of what comes next remain. If the aim is to save lives, the response must address those causes through credit access, fair crop prices, crop insurance and farmer training,” he said.
The industry body warned that banning paraquat during the ongoing kharif sowing season could sharply increase production costs for farmers already facing labour shortages and rising input prices.
According to a study conducted by the Directorate of Weed Research, weeds cause annual crop productivity losses of around ₹92,000 crore in India. CropLife India said paraquat is currently used on nearly 80 lakh acres annually and remains a cost-effective weed management tool, especially for small and marginal farmers.
At the same time, health and environmental groups continue to demand stricter regulations or a complete ban on paraquat, arguing that mounting scientific evidence and global regulatory trends justify precautionary action.
The World Health Organization estimates that the number of Parkinson’s disease cases worldwide has more than doubled over the past 25 years and is expected to continue rising in coming decades.
As countries tighten scrutiny over hazardous agrochemicals, India now faces the challenge of balancing public health concerns, farmer safety and agricultural productivity while deciding the future of paraquat and related pesticides.