Syngenta, the Swiss-based chemical maker, has announced that it will stop selling paraquat in Australia, citing new regulations that have made the herbicide ‘commercially unviable’. The decision follows restrictions imposed by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority in June, which aimed to address acute exposure and risks to animals associated with the highly poisonous chemical.
Paraquat has been linked to Parkinson’s disease in users and is banned in over 70 countries, including the European Union since 2007. Although the APVMA found no conclusive evidence that paraquat exposure increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, the new restrictions will limit its use in agriculture, particularly in broad-acre cropping like grains, sugarcane, and cotton.
Syngenta ANZ’s managing director, David Van Ryswyk, stated that the company will manage the phase-out of its paraquat products in accordance with the APVMA’s designated sell-out and use-by timelines. The new restrictions required the phasing out of backpack sprayers, additional personal protective equipment for users, and a lower maximum rate of application per hectare.
While Syngenta’s decision to pull paraquat from the Australian market may create uncertainty for local growers, generic paraquat products will still be available. Grain Producers Australia spokesperson Andrew Weidemann expressed concerns about the impact of the decision on the agricultural industry, stating that it may lead to fewer choices for growers and raise questions about future investment in the market.
The link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease has been a topic of concern, with Melbourne neurologist Associate Prof Wes Thevathasan stating that there is ‘global consensus’ in the field that exposure to paraquat increases the risk of developing the disease. Despite this, Syngenta had initially planned to continue supplying paraquat through a third-party manufacturer, but ultimately decided that the new regulations and supply chain costs made the product unviable.
