22 August 2007
Paraquat banned in the EU - update
On 11 July 2007 the Court of first Instance of the European Communities decided to annul the directive authorizing paraquat as an active plant protection substance.
This active substance has been banned in 13 countries, including Sweden,
Denmark, Austria and Finland. However, in 2003 the European Commission decided
to authorize paraquat as an active substance in plant protection products.
Sweden, supported by Denmark, Austria, and Finland, brought the European
Union commission to court and today the decision was taken in favor of Sweden.
The court decision says “The Commission’s handling of the file
does not satisfy the applicable procedural requirements and the directive
fails to satisfy the requirement of protection of human and animal health”
- This is an important decision, since it states that directive 2003/11
fails to satisfy the requirement of protection of human health, says Anne-Sofie
Andersson, Director of the International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec).
Paraquat is highly toxic to animals and has serious and irreversible delayed effects if absorbed. There are no specific antidotes. Those who suffer large exposures are unlikely to survive. Being less acutely toxic at spray strength, the greatest risk to workers of fatal and serious accidents is during mixing and loading. Paraquat one of the most widely used active substances in pesticides and more than 120 countries are using pesticides containing paraquat. Paraquat is used to control broad-leaved weeds and grasses and is therefore widely used for weed control in fruit orchards and plantation crops, including coffee, cocoa, coconut, oil palms, rubber, bananas, vines, olives and tea, ornamental trees and shrubs and in forestry.
An appeal may be brought before the Court of Justice of the European Communities against a decision of the Court of First Instance, within two months of its notification.
Follow-up stories:
In response to the decision, PAN Europe launched 'Paraquat Watch' – an on-line information resource housed within the PAN Europe website. This facility has been put together following the annulment of the EU-wide authorisation for paraquat, and aims to provide up to the minute information regarding the regulatory status of paraquat in Europe.
In view of the legal paraquat decision on EU level the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) on 13th July 2007 decided to suspend the registration of paraquat containing pesticide products for the time being. According to this decision it is currently not allowed to sell the product Gramoxone Extra. Remainders are not allowed to be used.
http://www.pan-germany.org
http://www.pestizidreduktion.de
In addition, authorities in France and the Netherlands: have withdrawn the authorisation (with immediate effect!) Read more (French)