Media Statement | Syngenta's position on Paraquat

Syngenta affirms that paraquat herbicide is safe when used as directed and the scientific evidence simply does not support a causal link between paraquat herbicide and Parkinson’s disease.

The hypothesis that paraquat causes Parkinson’s is not accepted in the medical community or peer-reviewed science, nor has it been accepted at any time in the past. In fact, according to the peer reviewed literature: there is a “consensus in the scientific community that the available evidence does not warrant a claim that paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease.” (Weed 2021).

Syngenta cares deeply about the health and well-being of farmers and agricultural workers. We are dedicated to providing them safe and effective products. We have great sympathy for those with health issues from the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease was first identified in 1817, more than 100 years before paraquat was first commercialised and sold. Today, Parkinson’s affects millions of people around the world who have never used or come into contact with paraquat herbicide.

Paraquat, which has been widely used for nearly 60 years, has been the subject of more than 1,200 safety studies submitted to, and reviewed by, regulatory authorities around the world. Two demanding, science-based government authorities, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and US EPA, have recently extensively analysed the potential link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease and found insufficient evidence that paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease.[1]

Regulatory authorities in countries where crop protection products, including paraquat, are sold have specific requirements for the detailed labels that are provided with the products. The label for paraquat products in Australia includes instructions for where and when it may be used, which crops, frequency, concentration, how to store and discard the pesticide container and more. 

Furthermore, as a Schedule 7 poison in Australia, paraquat products need to be treated with the utmost care and respect and are not available to the general public for use in home gardens – they are only available in containers sold through licensed agricultural pesticide distributors. 

As with all of Syngenta’s products, Syngenta’s research related to the safety and efficacy of paraquat has continued since paraquat was first commercialised in the 1960s. Syngenta is driven by the best available scientific information and as science has developed throughout the product lifecycle and as required by regulators, Syngenta has revised its labels accordingly. This is standard, best practice in our industry and many other regulated industries.

The use of paraquat supports sustainable farming practices in Australia

Paraquat plays a unique role for Australian agriculture. Many growers consider the herbicide essential in their farming toolbox as it:

• controls weeds without disturbing the soil and is therefore compatible with conservation tillage and no-till farming practices, which help prevent soil erosion and maintain soil health. This is particularly important given Australia’s arid climate and the high risk of soil erosion.
• Acts quickly to control invasive and damaging weeds
• Preserves crop roots
• Tackles weeds not effectively controlled by other herbicides
• Has no adverse effects on soil microbes, microorganism and earthworms.

Syngenta’s stewardship of paraquat products in Australia

Syngenta leads the market in our commitment to ensuring the responsible and safe use of paraquat in Australia including the following:

• An added emetic (a pharmaceutical substance used to induce vomiting) is one of many measures Syngenta takes to ensure the safe use of our paraquat products.
• A foul odour and blue coloured dye are added to make the product repulsive to ingest.
• Strict label warnings are on packaging to warn against transference of the product to small containers.
• Largescale Australian agriculture also typically employs closed transfer systems (using micromatic fittings), preventing accidental spills, the mixing or pouring the pesticide into other containers or other actions that could lead to paraquat exposure.
• Poisons test kits to help healthcare workers identify the level of Paraquat exposure are made available to hospital pharmacies for free around Australia.
• A 24/7 emergency hotline is available on all Syngenta products 
• Grower-facing training material and workshops

The Global Paraquat Market

Syngenta is one of 750 companies worldwide that has registered paraquat herbicide for sale. Today, Syngenta only sells paraquat-based formulations in five countries – U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Indonesia – with some of the most demanding regulatory requirements worldwide.[2]

Syngenta will not sell a product if it is not safe for its intended use. Paraquat contributes about 1% of Syngenta Crop Protection’s global sales. In Australia, the patent protection for paraquat expired in 1976 and a large number of generic suppliers have since entered the market. Since then, Syngenta has been subject to fluctuating generic market pricing, just like all other paraquat product registrants. But it is an important product for farmers in their quest to sustainably produce food for an increasingly populated world.

Our products are designed for specific farmer benefits where they are needed. Such products are not one-size-fits-all; they are used where the conditions warrant. For example, paraquat is particularly effective to eliminate a variety of weeds in fields before planting a crop. In such fields, paraquat enables farmers to eliminate weeds without tilling the soil to retain nutrients, moisture and carbon.

Syngenta has always taken seriously the safety of its products. The scientific consensus is that paraquat does not cause Parkinson’s disease. Paraquat continues to be sold because of the benefits it provides to farmers to produce the food the world needs. 

Australian Farmer Stories

Mark Fowler

Andrew Wiedemann