Syngenta will cease selling its paraquat herbicide in Australia due to new regulations making the product commercially unviable. The chemical, banned in over 70 countries and linked to Parkinson's disease, faced stricter application rules and supply chain challenges.
Syngenta's withdrawal of paraquat herbicide from Australia, a product linked to Parkinson's disease and banned in many countries, raises concerns for local growers about product availability and the management of herbicide resistance. The decision underscores the challenges of navigating evolving regulations and supply chain complexities in the agricultural chemical market.
Syngenta, a major chemical producer, will cease selling its paraquat herbicide in Australia due to new regulations that have rendered the product commercially unviable. The herbicide, which has been linked to Parkinson's disease and is banned in over 70 countries, faced stricter rules announced by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) in June.
David Van Ryswyk, Managing Director of Syngenta ANZ, stated that regulatory constraints and an increasingly expensive supply chain led to the decision. The new APVMA restrictions include phasing out backpack sprayers, mandating additional personal protective equipment for users, and setting a lower maximum application rate per hectare. Syngenta had previously argued that the pesticide did not cause an unacceptable environmental impact and that the regulations would limit its use in significant crop applications.
Despite the APVMA's assessment that the weight of evidence does not show paraquat exposure increases the risk of Parkinson's disease through approved uses, the new restrictions were implemented to address acute exposure and risks to animals. However, medical professionals like neurologist Associate Prof Wes Thevathasan maintain a global consensus in their field that paraquat exposure is linked to Parkinson's, with studies suggesting a threefold increase in risk. Generic paraquat products will continue to be available to Australian farmers.
Grain Producers Australia spokesperson Andrew Weidemann expressed concern over Syngenta's withdrawal, highlighting the uncertainty it creates for growers and questioning future investment in the Australian market. He warned that such decisions could leave farmers with fewer choices for managing herbicide resistance.
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