Paraquat will continue to be used in Australia despite 70 countries banning weedkiller over Parkinson’s disease fears
Summary
Australia will continue to allow the use of the herbicide paraquat, even though over 70 countries have banned it due to worries it may cause Parkinson’s disease. The Australian regulator, APVMA, decided this after reviewing many studies but did not find clear proof that paraquat causes the disease. However, they will enforce stricter rules to reduce risks to farm workers and wildlife.Key Facts
- Paraquat is banned in more than 70 countries because of health concerns.
- The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) reviewed paraquat and decided to keep it legal.
- APVMA’s review did not find a definite cause-and-effect link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease.
- Stricter limits will be placed on how much paraquat can be used and on safety measures for those applying it.
- Paraquat is mainly used in farming grains, sugarcane, cotton, and horticulture in Australia.
- Other countries like the European Union and the UK banned paraquat citing safety concerns.
- Some internal company documents revealed early concerns about paraquat’s potential harm.
- Parkinson’s researchers in Australia disagree with APVMA, saying studies show paraquat increases Parkinson’s risk by about three times.
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