Canada OKs paraquat in special review

The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has proposed the continued registration of Syngenta's herbicide paraquat, following a special review of pest control products containing paraquat based on a prohibition by the European Union (EU) in 2007 for health and environmental reasons. The public comments have been opened until 27 Sep, 2015.

The evaluation of available scientific information related to the aspects of concern for human health and the environment, indicated that the registered products containing paraquat are acceptable for continued registration taking into account the proposed revised conditions of use. On this basis, the agency is proposing to amend the current registration of products containing paraquat for sale and use in Canada with the proposed risk mitigation measures and implementation timelines.

Paraquat, a contact non-selective herbicide, is registered in Canada for the control of grasses and broadleaf weeds in established crops (for example fruit crops, filbert and hazelnuts, and vegetables) or as a pre-emergent treatment (for example potatoes and field crops) at the maximum application rate of 1.1 kg paraquat as dichloride/hectare. Paraquat can be applied alone or tank-mixed with other herbicides using groundboom equipment and backpack sprayer.

Registered products containing paraquat of 14 August 2015