California Law Requires Tracking of PFAS in Pesticides
- California will now track pesticides containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances under legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
- The law directs the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to explicitly indicate the presence of PFAS chemicals when logging pesticide use in a public database.
- California produces nearly half of the nation's vegetables and more than three-quarters of its fruits and nuts, giving the state's database national significance for agricultural monitoring.
California will now track pesticides containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances under legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation requiring state agricultural regulators to track and report pesticides containing these persistent chemicals.
Mandatory Tracking in a National Agricultural Hub
The law directs the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to explicitly indicate the presence of PFAS chemicals when logging pesticide use in a public database. Officials are also required to track statewide usage trends for these compounds.
The stakes are high. California produces nearly half of the nation’s vegetables and more than three-quarters of its fruits and nuts, giving the state’s database national significance for agricultural monitoring.
Public Health Concerns and Environmental Backing
Environmental advocates threw their support behind the measure as an essential prerequisite for future policy decisions. Monica Amarelo, vice president of media relations at the Environmental Working Group, stated that the new monitoring gives the state an opportunity to analyze chemical applications and determine future reduction strategies.
Federal health data highlights the urgency. Research cited by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention links PFAS exposure to adverse health outcomes, including high cholesterol, immune system effects, and cancer.
Scaling Back a Stricter Ban
The signed law represents a legislative compromise following intense opposition to a much stricter initial proposal. An earlier version sponsored by Burbank Democrat Nick Schultz would have prohibited state regulators from approving any new pesticides containing PFAS chemicals.
That initial proposal drew widespread opposition from agricultural groups across the state, prompting lawmakers to scale back the bill to focus solely on tracking and reporting.
Laying the Groundwork for Reform
Despite the narrowing of the bill’s scope, Schultz defended the final measure as a necessary foundation for reform.
Tracking and monitoring is the crucial first step. You can’t fix what you can’t see.
Nick Schultz, California State Assemblymember
Schultz described the law as a vital step toward ensuring California’s agricultural legacy is defined by health and innovation. Environmental organizations now hope that comprehensive use data will eventually build the scientific backing needed for tighter restrictions on PFAS pesticides in commercial farming.