Syngenta to stop selling paraquat in Australia after new safety rules

Syngenta’s decision to stop selling paraquat in Australia marks a major shift in the country’s herbicide market. The move comes after the national regulator tightened safety rules on one of the world’s most controversial weed killers, a chemical banned in more than 70 countries and long associated in public debate with Parkinson’s disease.For Australian farmers, the news is not as simple as a ban or a total disappearance. Paraquat will still be available through generic suppliers, but Syngenta’s exit raises bigger questions about product choice, market stability and how growers will adapt to the new rules.Why paraquat is back in the spotlightParaquat has been used in Australian agriculture since 1964, especially in broad-acre cropping such as grains, sugarcane and cotton. It is a non-selective contact herbicide, which means it kills a wide range of weeds quickly, making it useful in many farming situations.But paraquat has also been controversial for decades because of its high toxicity and the concern that exposure may be linked to Parkinson’s disease, as per reports. The APVMA reviewed that evidence in detail and said the weight of evidence does not show that paraquat exposure through approved uses increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.The new APVMA rulesThe Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) introduced new restrictions in June 2026 after a comprehensive review of paraquat and diquat. These changes were designed to reduce acute exposure risks for workers and lower risks to animals and the environment.The new rules phase out backpack sprayers, require enclosed mixing and loading systems, strengthen personal protective equipment requirements, and lower the maximum application rate per hectare substantially. According to the APVMA, existing stock will be phased out over a two-year period, giving the industry time to adjust.Why Syngenta is exitingSyngenta ANZ said the company carried out a commercial review after the APVMA’s decision and concluded that paraquat products were no longer viable to sell in Australia. The company pointed to regulatory constraints, a highly complex supply chain and rising costs as the main reasons for pulling out.Managing director David Van Ryswyk said dedicating significant resources to unprofitable legacy products was no longer sustainable. Syngenta had already announced plans in March to end paraquat production at its UK plant, and had previously expected to continue supplying Australian farmers through a third-party manufacturer. That plan has now been abandoned.What stays on the marketThe important detail for farmers is that Syngenta’s exit does not remove paraquat from Australia altogether. Generic paraquat products made by other manufacturers will still be available.That said, Syngenta has been one of the most established names in the market for decades, and its withdrawal could affect supply confidence, pricing, and how quickly growers can adapt to label changes. Grain Producers Australia has already said the move creates uncertainty and raises questions about what happens next, according to ABC News.The farmer reactionGrower groups are worried not only about supply, but also about the practical work that comes with the APVMA changes. Western Victorian farmer and Grain Producers Australia spokesman Andrew Weidemann said the exit leaves important questions around future investment and product access, as per the ABC report.He also warned that if large global companies begin stepping away from the Australian market, farmers may face fewer choices at the very moment they need more tools to manage herbicide resistance. That concern is especially relevant in broad-acre systems, where paraquat has long been used as a key part of weed control.Why this matters beyond one companyThis is not just a corporate announcement. It is a sign of how regulation and commercial decisions can reshape the agricultural chemical market together. Even when a product remains legal, a major supplier leaving can change how accessible it is in practice.It also highlights the pressure on agriculture to balance productivity with safety. Paraquat remains valuable to many growers, but the APVMA’s review shows that regulators are trying to narrow its use to situations where risks can be better controlled.The science and the debateOne reason paraquat continues to draw attention is the long-running debate about Parkinson’s disease. Some doctors and researchers argue the epidemiological evidence points to a meaningful risk, while the APVMA says its review of scientific data did not find convincing evidence that approved uses cause Parkinson’s disease.That difference matters because it shapes public trust as well as regulation. For consumers, the issue is safety. For farmers, it is also about whether the available alternatives can do the same job at a workable cost and scale.What the future could look likeFor now, Australian growers will have to adjust to stricter use conditions and a market where one major brand is stepping back. The APVMA’s new registration conditions will apply to products manufactured from now on, while old stock will be phased out over time.Over the longer term, the market may shift toward generic suppliers and new weed-control strategies. But that transition may not be smooth, especially for growers who relied on Syngenta’s product range and technical support.The bigger takeawaySyngenta’s exit shows how quickly a familiar farm input can become commercially and politically difficult. Paraquat is still legal in Australia, but the new rules have changed the economics around it, and that change could ripple through the farming sector for years.For Australian agriculture, the real story is not just that one company is leaving. It is that the industry is being forced to rethink how it uses one of its most powerful herbicides, and what comes next if that tool becomes harder to rely on.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.