AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill being considered by the Maine Legislature would exempt agricultural pesticides from a ban relating to forever chemicals set to take effect in 2030.
Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Aroostook, is sponsoring the bill, LD 1960.
"I can’t look at farmers with a straight face and say they don’t have an argument here," Jackson told NEWS CENTER Maine.
He said Maine's farming community asked for the exemption until pesticide manufacturers are able to make sure PFAS isn't in their products.
"I think [farmers] are just challenged by a lot of things," Jackson added.
The Senate president said he wants to figure out a way to "fix the PFAS issue." Jackson added the law would put Maine farmers on an even playing field with other states without the same restrictions.
"Other states and other countries can import products that have PFAS, and now we’re trying to make our Maine farmers do something at this point they’re not sure they can comply with," he said.
Some lawmakers say they don’t agree this is a reason to allow the same thing to happen in Maine.
"I think Maine is better than the producers that are shipping food into our grocery stores from other countries and other parts of our country," Rep. Bill Pluecker, I-Warren, said.
Rep. Pluecker said he’s against the exemption as it would create a direct route for PFAS into food.
"Getting this PFAS out of the food supply and out of the food system of production is really important to me, and I think important to the majority of Mainers," Pluecker added.
Lawmakers are also considering exemptions for veterinary products.