Herbicide Ban - Paraquat Dichloride

Why in News?

Recently, the union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has accepted the recommendation to ban Paraquat Dichloride.

• Paraquat dichloride – A chemical herbicide used globally to control broadleaf weeds and grasses and as a harvest-aid desiccant to dry out crops like cotton before harvest.
• It destroys plant tissue on contact but leaves no residual chemical activity in the soil.

Key Highlights        

• Reason for Ban –
  • Documented adverse health effects
  • Continued history of poisoning incidents
  • Reported high fatalities
  • The absence of a specific antidote
• The ban covers manufacture, import, transport, distribution, sale, and use.
• Recommended by – The Registration Committee under the Insecticides Act, 1968
• Global Context – Already banned or strictly restricted in 70+ countries.

Reference

The Hindu | Paraquat Dichloride