RELEASE: Rep. Friedman Celebrates Official Phase-Out of Paraquat After Leading the Fight to Ban It

BURBANK, CA —  Today, August 31, 2026, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) celebrated the official phase out of paraquat in California after every manufacturer of products containing the toxic ingredient voluntarily agreed to pull them from the market. The phase-out is the direct result of legislation Friedman authored in the California Assembly which forced state regulators to fast-track a scientific review the pesticide industry had fought for years to delay.

“Today, California reasserts itself as a leader in protecting the health of its residents by eliminating the highly toxic chemical paraquat,” said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “I will continue to do everything I can to protect Americans from harmful chemicals, especially in our air, water, and soil.”

HOW FRIEDMAN'S BILL FORCED THE PHASE-OUT:

• AB 1963, signed into law in September 2024, required the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to complete a formal scientific reevaluation of paraquat by January 1, 2029 — dramatically faster than the department's typical pace, with some reviews dragging on for more than two decades.
• DPR opened the reevaluation in November 2024 and released two preliminary scientific assessments that identified harms to the thyroid system, links to birth defects, and significant risks to wildlife.
• Because of AB 1963, DPR’s reevaluation gave it the authority to require manufacturers to submit new studies. They set a deadline of June 5, 2026 for pesticide manufacturers(?) to fill newly-identified gaps in the agency’s human health toxicology database.
• Instead of submitting the data, manufacturers began cancelling their California registrations in April 2026. The last registrant cancelled on August 6, 2026 — triggering the statewide phase-out of DPR announced on August 10.

Paraquat is one of the most widely-used herbicides in the United States and is applied to almonds, pistachios, grapes, pomegranates, cotton, and other crops. It is so dangerous that only licensed applicators may use it. Scientific research has linked paraquat exposure to Parkinson's disease, childhood leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, thyroid disease, and birth defects.

Friedman has a track record of protecting Californians from exposure to harmful chemicals. In the California Assembly, she authored legislation to ban PFAS (known as “Forever Chemicals”) in cosmetic, personal care, and juvenile products like cribs and car seats sold in California. In Congress, Friedman is a co-lead of the bipartisan No PFAS in Cosmetics Act with Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-6) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1). The legislation bans the use of PFAS in cosmetic products sold nationwide.

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