Syngenta to Cease Paraquat Sales in Australia Amid New Regulations
Syngenta, a Swiss chemical company, has announced it will stop selling the herbicide paraquat in Australia. This decision follows new regulations imposed by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) aimed at addressing acute exposure risks and animal safety. Paraquat, linked to Parkinson's disease, is banned in over 70 countries and has been prohibited in the European Union since 2007. Despite its ban in domestic settings, it remains widely used in Australian agriculture. The APVMA's new rules include phasing out backpack sprayers, mandating additional protective equipment, and reducing the maximum application rate per hectare. Syngenta cited these regulatory constraints and an increasingly expensive supply chain as reasons for the product's commercial unviability.