EPA to Host Roundtable on Paraquat This Summer
Agency to convene scientists, experts, and advocates to examine safety questions, solutions, and alternatives
WASHINGTON — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it will host a roundtable on the herbicide paraquat this summer, convening scientists, subject-matter experts, farmworker and community advocates, and other stakeholders to discuss the documented safety challenges associated with the chemical, examine the latest science, and explore potential solutions and alternatives.
Additional details, including the date, location, format, and information on how to participate, are forthcoming and will be announced in the coming weeks.
The roundtable reflects EPA's commitment to grounding every regulatory decision in the strongest, most reliable science available — science that protects the health of all Americans, including farmers, farmworkers, and fenceline communities. It also advances the Agency's pledge of radical transparency by creating an open forum where independent scientists, advocates, and affected communities can engage directly with EPA on the questions surrounding paraquat.
After reviewing a new vapor-pressure study, the Agency determined that greater uncertainty exists about how much paraquat volatilizes from agricultural fields than previously understood. In response, EPA issued a Data Call-In Notice requiring paraquat manufacturers to conduct a field volatility study under real-world agricultural conditions — moving the Agency's evaluation from modeled assumptions to actual field data. EPA has committed to making the resulting data, its methods, and its updated risk analysis publicly available and open for public comment.
"Americans deserve gold-standard science and radical transparency, and that is exactly what we are delivering on paraquat," said Administrator Lee Zeldin. "When new science raises questions, we will not look the other way. We are requiring manufacturers to prove that current uses are safe under real-world conditions, and if they cannot meet that standard, decisive action will follow. This roundtable is about bringing the best minds and most affected voices to the table so that whatever we do next is grounded in the best available gold-standard science."
The roundtable is expected to address the documented safety issues and inhalation-exposure concerns associated with paraquat, the state of the science informing EPA's ongoing reassessment, and the range of possible protective measures and alternative approaches. EPA has recognized the leadership of those who have called for stronger protections for workers and communities and intends for the roundtable to be a constructive, science-driven dialogue.
EPA shares a core goal with stakeholders across the spectrum: any pesticide on the market must meet the highest standards of safety, grounded in the best available science. Where accurate new studies reveal additional risk, EPA will be positioned — scientifically and legally — to tighten protections, require tougher rules, and limit uses as needed to protect workers, neighbors, and communities.
Further details on the paraquat roundtable will be released in the weeks ahead.