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🇦🇺 Australia /Economy & Trade

Syngenta to end controversial herbicide sales in Australia, New Zealand

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Syngenta will stop selling the herbicide paraquat in Australia and New Zealand after regulators imposed new usage restrictions.
  • The company cited regulatory constraints and a complex supply chain making the product commercially unviable, despite the regulator finding no evidence of increased Parkinson's risk with safe use.
  • Farmers expressed uncertainty about market stability and the cost of adapting to new label changes, while Syngenta plans to manage the product phase-out according to regulatory timelines.

Syngenta, a major chemical manufacturer, is ceasing sales of the controversial herbicide paraquat in Australia and New Zealand. The decision follows new restrictions imposed by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) on the chemical's use.

Regulatory constraints, combined with a highly complex and increasingly expensive supply chain, have made the paraquat herbicide products commercially unviable.

— David Van RyswykSyngenta ANZ managing director explaining the company's decision to exit the paraquat market.

The APVMA stated that when used safely under the new restrictions, the chemical does not increase the risk of Parkinson's disease. However, Syngenta ANZ managing director David Van Ryswyk explained that regulatory constraints and an increasingly complex, expensive supply chain rendered the paraquat herbicide products commercially unviable. He noted that dedicating significant resources to "unprofitable legacy products" is no longer sustainable.

Dedicating significant resources to unprofitable legacy products is no longer sustainable.

— David Van RyswykSyngenta ANZ managing director on the company's resource allocation.

Paraquat is a weed control agent used in various crops. Syngenta had previously announced plans to end global production by the end of June, intending to supply Australian farmers through a third-party manufacturer. This plan has now also been discontinued.

Paraquat has been a highly valued productivity and conservation tool for many Australian and New Zealand growers.

— David Van RyswykSyngenta ANZ managing director on the historical value of the product.

Despite Syngenta's exit, generic versions of the herbicide will continue to be available, manufactured by other companies, many of which are based in China. Andrew Weidemann, a farmer and spokesman for Grain Producers Australia, voiced concerns about the uncertainty Syngenta's withdrawal creates. He highlighted that the industry will bear the cost and effort of implementing the APVMA's required label changes, including adjustments to active ingredient amounts and withholding periods.

Syngenta has been the stable foundation of this market for decades.

— Andrew WeidemannGrain Producers Australia spokesman expressing concern over Syngenta's withdrawal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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