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News: The Union government has issued a draft notification proposing a complete ban on the manufacture, import, transport, distribution, sale and use of paraquat dichloride.
About Paraquat Dichloride
- Paraquat is also known as paraquat dichloride or methyl viologen.
- It is one of the world’s most-used herbicides.
- It a highly toxic chemical which is mainly used to control weeds and dry out crops like cotton before harvest.
- The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that “even a small accidental sip can be fatal” to humans.
- The WHO classifies paraquat as a Category 2 chemical, indicating it is moderately hazardous and irritating.
- Restrictions: It is banned in over 70 countries, including China, India (banned recently under Section 27 of the Insecticides Act, 1968) and the European Union, due to its high toxicity.
- Despite this, it remains widely used in the US.
- Paraquat is still not officially listed under the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure of the Rotterdam Convention.
