China approved Shandong Luba's 50% paraquat SG for production

Chinese agrochemical company Shandong Luba Chemical recently received the approval production permit of its 50%paraquat SG from Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. This is another non-aqueous paraquat formulation product approved in China for production following the approved production of the 20% paraquat GW of Chinese agrochemical company Nanjing Red Sun Biochemical.

Paraquat is the world’s 2nd largest herbicide only next to glyphosate, having been introduced to China in 1978. However due to its high toxicity and occurrence of mistaken swallowing, paraquat AS is banned. On 24th April 2012, a public announcement under Ref 1745 was issued jointly by Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, General Administration of Quality Supervision,Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China. The Announcement states that paraquat AS registration, production permit and production activity shall be terminated from 1st July 2014 while paraquat AS sales and use shall be terminated from 1st July 2016.

In view of the prohibition, Shandong Luba has acted positively to develop non-aqueous paraquat so as to save the life of paraquat and has finally succeeded in the development of the soluble granule paraquat. Its 50% paraquat SG was registered with the Ministry of Agriculture in 2012, which was the 1st non-aqueous paraquat registered in China. In 2014 Luba finished the pilot test of the 50% paraquat SG, followed by completion of equipment installation at the end of the year. So far the production system has been commissioned and the plant will be brought on stream in a few days. It is expected that 50% paraquat SG will be released to market at the end of April.
 
According to the board chairman Zhao Yan, compared with paraquat AS, an occurrence of mistaken swallowing of the 50% paraquat SG is minimum; the paraquat content is high and stable, easy to store and carry, much safer; also the use of paraquat SG is very practical, almost same like aqueous product; it is quite acceptable to farmers even the cost of use is a little bit higher than aqueous product.