Syngenta announced it will stop producing paraquat by the end of June 2026, but this decision won't significantly reduce the toxic herbicide's use on American farms. While the company is exiting production at its United Kingdom facility, at least 377 other manufacturers globally produce the generic active ingredient, and over 750 companies sell paraquat-based herbicides worldwide. The weedkiller, linked to Parkinson's disease and other serious health conditions, will continue to be manufactured abroad and imported into the United States, where it remains widely sprayed despite being banned in at least 70 countries.

Why Is Paraquat Still Legal in the U.S. When So Many Countries Have Banned It?

The disconnect between international action and U.S. policy reveals a significant regulatory gap. While the United Kingdom and China—where Syngenta's parent company ChemChina is based—have both banned paraquat, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to allow its use despite acknowledging scientific uncertainty about how the chemical drifts through the air and affects nearby communities. This regulatory failure means the burden falls on individual states to restrict or ban the pesticide.

The health evidence against paraquat is substantial. Chronic exposure to the herbicide increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological condition affecting movement and coordination. One study found that farmers and agricultural workers who sprayed paraquat were more than twice as likely to develop Parkinson's disease compared to those who applied other pesticides. A meta-analysis reviewing 13 separate studies found a 64% increase in the likelihood of developing Parkinson's disease from paraquat exposure.

What Other Health Risks Does Paraquat Pose?

Beyond Parkinson's disease, exposure to paraquat has been linked to several other serious health conditions. Farmers, farm workers, and people living near sprayed fields face the greatest risk because they experience the most direct contact with the chemical. The populations most vulnerable to paraquat exposure include:

• Agricultural Workers: Farm workers who handle and spray paraquat-based herbicides face chronic occupational exposure and the highest disease risk.
• Farmers and Applicators: People who apply paraquat to crops experience repeated exposure during growing seasons.
• Nearby Residents: Families living adjacent to fields sprayed with paraquat may be exposed through drift and environmental contamination.
• Children in Agricultural Communities: Paraquat exposure has been linked to childhood leukemia, putting young people in farming regions at particular risk.

In addition to Parkinson's disease, paraquat exposure has been associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, and childhood leukemia.

How Much Paraquat Is Actually Being Used in America?

The scale of paraquat use in the United States remains substantial despite growing health concerns. According to the most recent available data from 2017, approximately 10 million pounds of the active ingredient were applied across U.S. farms. In California alone, Syngenta's Gramoxone brand accounted for about half of all paraquat products applied during 2017 to 2021, with other companies supplying the remaining half.

Paraquat is sold under numerous brand names globally, making it difficult for consumers and even farmers to recognize they're using the chemical. Common product names include Gramoxone, Firestorm, Bonfire, Parazone, Devour, Helmquat, Blanco, Para-shot, Bonedry, Quik-Quat, Willowwood, Cyclone, and Crisquat.

Why Is Syngenta Really Exiting Paraquat Production?

Syngenta's decision appears driven primarily by business strategy rather than health concerns. The company stated that paraquat represents less than 1% of its global sales, making it a minor part of its overall portfolio. By discontinuing production, Syngenta can focus resources on more profitable product lines.

However, an unspoken factor likely influencing the decision is litigation risk. Syngenta has faced thousands of lawsuits linking paraquat to Parkinson's disease, and while the company has begun settling some cases, thousands more remain pending. This pattern mirrors Bayer's decision in 2023 to remove glyphosate from its residential lawn and garden herbicide products in direct response to over 100,000 lawsuits.

Steps States Are Taking to Protect Residents from Paraquat

Since federal action remains stalled, momentum is building at the state level. Thirteen states are currently weighing legislation to either prohibit paraquat use entirely or restrict its application near public schools, signaling growing political support for banning the chemical. These state-level efforts represent the most promising avenue for reducing American exposure to paraquat in the near term.

• Complete Bans: Some states are considering legislation that would prohibit paraquat use on all crops and in all settings.
• School Zone Restrictions: Other states are focusing on protecting children by banning paraquat application near public schools and educational facilities.
• Regulatory Momentum: The growing number of states considering restrictions signals that paraquat regulation may eventually become a national issue.

What Happens After Syngenta Stops Production?

Syngenta's exit from paraquat manufacturing will likely have minimal impact on U.S. availability and use. Because paraquat is a generic active ingredient, other manufacturers will continue producing it. China is currently the world's largest producer of paraquat, despite the fact that the country has banned its application domestically. Other major producers include companies in India, Japan, and Europe.

Additionally, Syngenta has not committed to stopping the sale of paraquat-based herbicides like Gramoxone after ceasing production. The company could simply arrange for another manufacturer to produce the active ingredient while it continues selling finished products under its brand names.

The bottom line: Syngenta's decision is a tactical retreat that addresses the company's business interests rather than the public health crisis. Unless the EPA changes its regulatory stance or states implement their own bans, paraquat will continue to be manufactured abroad, shipped to the United States, and sprayed on millions of acres of American farmland, exposing workers and nearby residents to a chemical linked to serious neurological and blood diseases.