Government Proposes Ban on Paraquat Dichloride Pesticide

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The Central Government has released a draft notification to enforce a complete nationwide ban on **Paraquat Dichloride**.
This proposed restriction covers the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution, and overall use of the chemical across India.
Authorities introduced this ban under **Section 27 of the Insecticides Act, 1968**, because the chemical poses severe safety risks to humans and animals.

**Paraquat Dichloride** is a fast-acting and non-selective herbicide used to clear unwanted weeds quickly.
Farmers widely use it for crop desiccation before harvest in crops like tea, cotton, coffee, rubber, paddy, wheat, maize, potato, grapes, and apple.

A **government-appointed Expert Committee and the Registration Committee** documented severe health risks and frequent fatal poisoning cases from this chemical.
Medical experts highlight that no specific antidote exists to treat poisoning caused by **Paraquat Dichloride**.
More than **70 countries** have already banned or strictly limited the use of this dangerous weedicide.
It ranks among the most toxic herbicides globally, causing damage through swallowing, breathing in fumes, or direct contact with skin.
Exposure can cause severe lung damage, kidney failure, liver damage, heart problems, **Parkinson's disease**, and death in many cases.

Officials raised alarms over direct chemical exposure among farm laborers, intentional self-harm, and accidental home poisonings.
Many farmers misused the chemical on unapproved crops beyond the recommended agricultural guidelines.
Several states, including **Telangana**, **Andhra Pradesh**, **Odisha**, and **Kerala**, had requested the Centre for strict controls on its sale.

The ban may temporarily raise weed management expenses as farmers transition toward safer weed control methods.
On the positive side, removing this chemical will protect farm workers and stop toxic residues from entering food products.

By restricting this harmful chemical, India aligns itself with global standards on agricultural safety and chemical regulation.
This decision marks a major step toward protecting public health and promoting sustainable farming practices across the nation.