India bans Paraquat Dichloride:
The Central Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has officially banned Paraquat Dichloride, one of the world’s most toxic non-selective herbicides, citing severe risks to human and animal life.
- Paraquat is a fast-acting, broad-spectrum, non-selective contact herbicide used for weed control and crop desiccation. It damages plant cells by generating reactive oxygen species during photosynthesis.
- Paraquat is highly toxic when ingested, and poisoning can be fatal. The absence of a specific antidote makes severe poisoning particularly difficult to treat.
- Paraquat poisoning can severely damage the lungs and kidneys, with progressive pulmonary fibrosis being among its most serious and potentially irreversible effects.
- Its accessibility in agriculture creates risks of occupational exposure, accidental poisoning and intentional ingestion, increasing the public-health burden associated with hazardous pesticides.
- Government expert review and consultations with the Registration Committee assessed its risks to human health, livestock and the environment, providing the basis for regulatory action.
