California moves to monitor PFAS pesticide use on farms
The state legislature approved a bill that obliges California to record which farm pesticides contain PFAS chemicals, sending the measure to Governor Gavin Newsom for approval.
California's legislature passed a bill mandating the state to log the use of pesticides that include per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on farms. The original proposal by Assemblymember Nick Schultz would have phased out PFAS pesticides, aligning the state with Maine and Minnesota, but agricultural interests opposed a ban. The revised version requires the Department of Pesticide Regulation to identify PFAS-containing products in its public database.
Governor Gavin Newsom will decide whether to sign the bill into law or veto it. PFAS chemicals are largely untested for human health, with some studies suggesting links to reduced fertility, developmental delays in children, and increased cancer risk. The European Union has already prohibited 23 PFAS pesticides used in California, according to the Environmental Working Group. Schultz said the tracking requirement is a crucial step toward protecting California's agricultural legacy from toxic PFAS accumulation.
Why it matters
Tracking PFAS pesticides helps protect public health and guides safer farming practices in a state that supplies most U.S. produce.
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