The herbicide paraquat will remain legal in Australia, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) announced on Tuesday, despite being banned in over 70 countries due to concerns over links to Parkinson's disease. The decision follows a decades-long review of paraquat and the related chemical diquat, both widely used in Australian agriculture.
Regulator's Rationale
APVMA chief executive Scott Hansen stated that while the regulator would have liked to find a clear cause for Parkinson's, a review of hundreds of scientific papers and long-term data did not establish a causal link between paraquat and the disease. Instead, the APVMA will impose stricter conditions to reduce exposure risks for farm workers, birds, and mammals.
New restrictions include phasing out backpack sprayers, requiring enclosed mixing and loading systems, and mandating enhanced personal protective equipment. The maximum application rate will be reduced from 1,150 grams per hectare to 231 grams per hectare, except for technology-assisted spot spraying limited to 30% of a total area.
Controversy and Criticism
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Parkinson's groups, scientists, and neurologists. Melbourne neurologist Professor Wes Thevathasan told the ABC that multiple epidemiological studies suggest paraquat increases the risk of Parkinson's disease by around threefold. "The global consensus is that exposure to paraquat is closely linked to the development of Parkinson's disease," he said.
Olivia Nassaris, CEO of Parkinson's Australia, expressed disappointment, asking, "Are the lives of Australians less valuable?" She vowed to continue the fight for a ban.
Historical and Regulatory Context
A Guardian investigation in 2022 uncovered internal documents showing that manufacturer Syngenta had reservations about paraquat's chronic effects as early as the 1970s, despite public statements to the contrary. The European Union and the UK banned paraquat in 2007 after a lawsuit found Syngenta had not established the herbicide's safety.
Australia uses a risk-based assessment approach, requiring actual risk to be established, unlike the precautionary approach used by the EU. The APVMA lost expertise after its move from Canberra to Armidale in 2013, and the paraquat review took about 30 years despite being declared a priority for reconsideration in 1994.
Industry and Political Reactions
The National Farmers' Federation president, Hamish McIntyre, acknowledged community concern but emphasized that Australian agriculture operates under strict, science-based safeguards. Independent senator David Pocock criticized the decision as "yet another example of vested interests winning out over community interest."
Syngenta Australia said it was assessing the impact of the restricted conditions on its product portfolio, noting that paraquat has played a "unique and important role in Australian agriculture" for conservation agriculture and integrated weed management.
