Highly toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease approved for Aussie farmers amid backlash from health groups

By WILLIAM TOM FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 06:33, 23 June 2026 | Updated: 06:49, 23 June 2026 A controversial herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease has been approved for restricted use in Australia, drawing celebration from grain growers and condemnation from health groups. Paraquat and diquat will remain available after the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority handed down its final decision after a 30-year review into the chemicals' impacts on human health and the environment. 'Both chemicals remain available for use with significant new restrictions on application rates and permitted uses,' the regulator's chief executive Scott Hansen said. 'To protect users from acute exposure, new restrictions will phase out backpack sprayers and require enclosed mixing and loading systems for all uses, and enhanced personal protection equipment.' The maximum application rate will also reduce from 1,150grams per hectare to 231grams per hectare, although technology-assisted spot spraying will allow higher rates capped at 30 per cent of the total area. The regulator said detailed data showing acute toxicity risks for people handling the poison and impacts to birds and mammals foraging in treated areas contributed to the restrictions. 'In making its decision, the APVMA found the weight of evidence does not show that paraquat exposure through approved uses increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease,' the regulator said. But Parkinson's Australia, which has led the campaign to ban the products, criticised the regulator's 'shocking' decision, warning it will have catastrophic health consequences. A controversial herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease has been approved for restricted use in Australia (Stock image of weed insecticide fumigation) Paraquat and diquat will remain available after the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority handed down its final decision after a 30-year review The chief executive of Parkinson's Australia, Olivia Nassari (pictured), estimated the rate of Parkinson's will triple by 2050 The highly toxic herbicide, which is used on crops such as cotton, rice and wheat, has been banned in about 70 countries, including China, the world's largest producer of the chemical. Chief executive Olivia Nassaris warned of an impending epidemic and estimated the rate of Parkinson's will triple by 2050. She said controls, including increased PPE and replacing backpack sprayers with enclosed cabs, do not go far enough. 'The APVMA has failed not only farmers who use paraquat but all the other Australians exposed to it,' Ms Nassaris said. 'In the 30 years they have been reviewing this chemical, 70 countries around the world have banned it - yet we've still got Australian farmers using it every day.' Grain Producers Australia welcomed the outcome, saying it ensured producers have ongoing access to two critical weed management tools underpinning minimum and no-till farming systems. 'This is a positive outcome for Australian grain producers,' GPA Research Development spokesman Andrew Weidemann said. 'The ability to maintain minimum and no-till farming systems is one of the great success stories of Australian agriculture.' 'These systems have delivered enormous productivity gains while helping growers protect their soils, conserve moisture and reduce the environmental footprint of grain production.' Pesticide Action Australia executive director Josh Davis said the regulator's view on the products stood in contrast with Australia's leading neurologists and global experts. '[It] endangers not only farmers and their families, but also rural communities and the general public as we will all continue to be exposed to this toxic chemical through low-level dosages in food, water and air,' he said. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.