Pesticide registrant Syngenta voluntarily cancelled registration of Gramoxone SL 3.0 — a product containing paraquat-dichloride — in California.
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have both designated paraquat as a restricted material, meaning only licensed dealers can sell it and only professionally licensed applicators can use it. Paraquat is under DPR reevaluation.
Products containing paraquat that are registered by other companies are not affected by Syngenta’s voluntary cancellation. Gramoxone SL 3.0 may continue to be possessed and sold by DPR-licensed dealers for up to two years following the following effective date (April 1, 2028) of the company’s voluntary cancellation under California law. Growers using these products must do so in accordance with all applicable label directions, as well as state and federal regulations. Syngenta indicated that it will continue stewardship practices like training and safety resources while remaining stocks are distributed and sold.
The DPR is continuing to move through the process of reevaluation of paraquat products registered in California, in alignment with AB 1963. The Department has released two preliminary assessments and will continue to require data and additional information from remaining registrants. The reevaluations is expected to be completed by January 2029.