EU Court bans paraquat weedkiller
The toxic weedkiller paraquat, produced by Swiss agrochemicals giant Syngenta, has been banned in the EU in 2007 for not meeting health standards.
Background
The European Commission’s Standing Committee on the Food Chain & Animal Health voted in October 2003 to include the herbicide paraquat in a list of authorised pesticides - despite a fierce lobbying campaign by environment, health groups and trade unions to ban it. On 1 December 2003, the European Commission adopted Directive 2003/112 authorising the use of paraquat in the EU as an active plant protection substance.
In 2004, Sweden brought an action for annulment of Directive 2003/112 before the Court of First Instance.
Paraquat is considered one of the most dangerous and controversial herbicides in the world and is the main ingredient in Basel-based Syntenga’s weedkiller Gramoxone.
Workers and farmers around the world who are regularly exposed to the Paraquat pesticide experience serious problems with their health.
Its high toxicity and lack of antidote can lead to serious ill-health, and even death. Studies also indicate that paraquat has adverse effects on hares and birds, and may accumulate in soil.
**Update** The EU Court bans paraquat
In July 2007 the EU Court of First Instance annulled the Directive 2003/112 authorising the use of paraquat in the EU. The ruling followed the legal challenge by Sweden, supported by Denmark, Austria and Finland.
The main reasons put forward by the Court were:
the Commission did not fulfill the procedural requirements laid by Community law. Amongst others, the Commission did not make the required review of literature on potential links between paraquat and the Parkinson disease.
Directive 2003/112 fails to satisfy the requirement of protection of human health, which prohibits any exposure higher than the acceptable operator exposure level.
Syngenta, who is marketing the herbicide in over 100 countries, said that it has "comprehensive data that support the safe use of paraquat for users, consumers and environment."
According to the Berne Declaration "the verdicts shows that paraquat would never have made it to market if the authority had not turned a blind eye to it’s health risks." To see the full Berne Declaration response article click here.
For more information:
Berne Declaration, information about paraquat
Swedish Society for Nature Conservation
Pesticides Action Network Europe
EPHA related articles
MEPs emphasize health and environment with pesticide regulation
Commission supports proposed pesticide legislation
Related documents
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