Paraquat will continue to be used in Australia despite 70 countries banning weedkiller over Parkinson’s disease fears

Lead

Australia’s chemical regulator has approved the restricted use of the herbicide paraquat, a weedkiller banned in more than 70 countries, after concluding that the weight of evidence does not show that exposure through approved uses increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The decision, announced on Tuesday, follows a review that has been underway since 1997 and includes significant new restrictions on application rates and permitted uses.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) said the herbicide and the related chemical diquat would remain available for use, but with stricter conditions designed to reduce exposure risk for farm workers, birds, and mammals. The ruling has disappointed Parkinson’s researchers and advocacy groups, who argue that Australia is out of step with prevailing scientific evidence and international regulatory practice.

Coverage comparison

The decision was reported by ABC Australia and The Guardian, with both outlets focusing on the regulator’s findings and the controversy surrounding the chemical. ABC Australia’s coverage emphasised the APVMA’s review and the lack of evidence for a link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease, maintaining a neutral tone. The Guardian’s reporting, which included direct quotes from experts and stakeholders, adopted a more critical tone, highlighting the debate over whether Australia’s approach to regulating agricultural chemicals is adequate.

While both accounts noted the restrictions imposed by the regulator, the emphasis differed: ABC Australia highlighted the farming community’s view that paraquat is essential for controlling resistant weeds, whereas The Guardian gave greater weight to the concerns of Parkinson’s researchers and groups.

Key claims

• The APVMA has decided to allow the continued use of paraquat and diquat with stricter conditions, including lower application rates and requirements for enclosed mixing and loading systems. The maximum application rate for paraquat and diquat will be 231 grams per hectare, down from 1,150 grams per hectare previously, according to APVMA chief executive Scott Hansen.
• The regulator found that “the weight of evidence does not show that paraquat exposure through approved uses increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.” Hansen said the review of hundreds of scientific papers and long-term data had not established a causal link between paraquat and the neurological disease.
• Paraquat is banned in over 70 countries, including the European Union and the UK, which banned it in 2007 after a lawsuit found that the manufacturer Syngenta had not established the safety of the herbicide. The EU and many other nations apply a precautionary approach to chemical licensing, requiring manufacturers to prove their products are safe. Australia uses a risk-based assessment, where actual risk must be established.
• The chemicals are no longer permitted to be used with backpack sprayers, and new registration conditions will apply to all products manufactured from today. The regulator received 171 submissions from scientists, doctors, the agricultural industry, and other interested parties.
• Parkinson’s researchers and groups have expressed disappointment with the decision, arguing that Australia is out of step with the prevailing scientific evidence. The Guardian reported that Parkinson’s groups, scientists, and neurologists argue there is a strong correlation between direct exposure to paraquat and the incidence of Parkinson’s disease.

Perspectives

APVMA – The regulator maintains that the review of scientific evidence did not establish a causal link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease, and that the new restrictions will reduce exposure risk while allowing continued agricultural use.

Parkinson’s researchers and advocacy groups – These groups argue that Australia’s decision ignores a strong correlation between paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease, and that the country is out of step with the precautionary approach taken by many other nations that have banned the chemical.

Farming groups – Farming groups consider paraquat essential for controlling resistant weeds and had been concerned the product would be banned, as it has been in more than 67 countries.