Australians will be able to continue using herbicide Paraquat in some circumstances, despite it being banned in 70 other countries.
Government body refuses to ban Paraquat pesticide, already banned in 70 countries, despite calls from Parkinson's organisations A pesticide banned in 70 countries will continue to be used in Australia, after a government body concluded its 29-year review.
Australians will be able to continue using herbicide Paraquat in some circumstances, despite it being banned in 70 other countries. Following a 29-year review into Paraquat by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Australia , the body announced on Tuesday that it will not be banned. Paraquat is a popular weed killer in the farming industry, used to rapidly act against particularly resistant weeds.
For years, Parkinson's Australia has been campaigning for the pesticide to be banned due to its suspected links to the illness. Paraquat is banned in 70 countries, including the United Kingdom, the European Union and China, due to its toxicity. The APVMA however found that the “weight of evidence does not show that paraquat exposure through approved uses increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
” The APVMA will implement restrictions on the pesticide’s use, including restricting the amount used and how it is distributed. APVMA CEO Scott Hansen said that the changes will “phase out backpack sprayers and require enclosed mixing and loading systems for all uses, and enhanced personal protective equipment.
“Overall, the maximum rate of application on paraquat and diquat will be 231 grams per hectare, when it was previously 1150 grams per hectare. ” The APVMA said the restrictions are"driven by acute toxicity risks for people handling the Schedule 7 poisons and a detailed assessment of data showing acute and chronic exposure risks to birds and mammals foraging in treated areas.
"The pesticide has been investigated for 30 years by the APVMA. Picture: Getty Images. Parkinson's Australia slammed the government regulatory body for “failing” to act, in a statement from CEO Olivia Nassaris to the ABC.
“The APVMA has failed not only farmers who use paraquat, but all the other Australians exposed to it,” she said. "In the 30 years they've been reviewing this chemical, 70 countries around the world have banned it, yet we've still got Aussie farmers using it every day. We're the last to act here, and we've failed.
" In contrast, the National Farmers’ Federation has supported the decision by APVMA and will embrace the enforcement of the regulations. Decisions about agricultural chemicals are made by the APVMA, an independent, science-based regulator that assesses the latest evidence from Australia and around the world against our unique conditions," a spokesperson said.
“Farmers rely on that independent process. We are not scientists, but we have a responsibility to follow the rules, use products correctly, and continually improve practices as new information becomes available.
"No one wants to see farmers put at risk, and decisions must continue to be guided by robust scientific evidence, with clear, practical and enforceable safety requirements. "The NFF will continue to support our members with clear, evidence-based information and ensure farmers' interests are represented as the implications of this decision are worked through. "
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