India Bans Herbicide Paraquat Dichloride Linked to Thousands of Deaths

The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued a notification banning paraquat dichloride, a herbicide that has been linked to thousands of deaths in India due to self-harm, homicide, and accidental poisoning. The ban follows similar actions by several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Kerala.

The notification, issued under the Insecticides Act of 1968, states that the decision was based on recommendations from an Experts Committee and the Registration Committee, which regulates pesticide registration and sale in the country. The Registration Committee cited documented adverse health effects, a continued history of poisoning incidents with high fatalities, and the absence of a specific antidote as key reasons for the ban.

“The Registration Committee has recommended complete prohibition of Paraquat Dichloride in India i.e., an immediate ban on the manufacture, import, transport, distribution, sale and use of paraquat dichloride under the Insecticides Act, 1968,” the notification reads.

Paraquat dichloride is already banned or subject to strict restrictions in more than 70 countries worldwide. In India, it has been widely used by farmers as a post-harvest herbicide to clear fields for the next crop. However, its easy and cheap availability, including through online retailers, has been linked to rising cases of self-harm, particularly among young people and farmers.

The chemical has no antidote, and even small amounts can be fatal if ingested. Data from Indian hospitals have shown an acceleration in self-harm cases involving paraquat, often due to its low cost and accessibility. The ban is intended to address these public health concerns.

The notification marks the first step in the ban process. The Agriculture department has given a 30-day timeline to invite suggestions and objections from stakeholders, as required under the Insecticides Act. All states have been directed to take necessary steps to enforce the ban effectively.

Public health advocates have welcomed the move. Dr. Marri Mahesh Reddy, an emergency physician from Karimnagar, Telangana, who campaigned for the ban under the group Doctors Against Paraquat, said: “This is a welcome development. It will save many lives. If a decision like this was taken a decade earlier, we would not have lost so many farmers and young people to self-harm.”