Continued use of paraquat in New Zealand

Pesticides are undergoing regular testing as part of the ongoing registration process in many countries.

Part of this testing includes compliance of active substances with new safety standards and other improved scientific requirements.

Formulations containing paraquat have been registered for use in New Zealand since 1962.
A comprehensive assessment and subsequent approval, undertaken by the Environment Risk Management Authority of New Zealand and the Agricultural Chemical and Veterinary Medicine Group of the New Zealand Food Safety Authority was completed in October 2007. Regulatory authorities prolonged paraquat’s sales approval so this valuable herbicide can continue to be used.

With the NZ Regulatory System considered to be extremely rigorous by global standards, the approval represents an important achievement for Syngenta.

Registered on a variety of crops, the non-selectice herbicide paraquat is the solution for resistanceDescription The inherited ability of a plant/weed to survive a dose of a herbicide normally lethal to that species. Authoritative On-line References and Resources http://www.weedscience.org/in.asp The International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds monitors the evolution of resistant species and assesses their impact. All confirmed instances of new cases are listed.-conscious growers looking for outstanding weed control. In New Zealand, paraquat is widely used in pasture renovation, clover seed and lucerne crops.

The approval and registration of paraquat-based products once again reinforces Syngenta’s global commitment to product continuity and product stewardshipDescription The responsible and ethical management of a crop protection product in a way that takes full and balanced account of the interests of users, future generations, and other species. Authoritative On-line References and Resources http://www.croplife.org/ CropLife International is a global federation representing the plant science industry and a network of regional and national associations in 91 countries. These organisations are committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology..

Find more on the Environmental Risk Management Authority of New Zealand website: approval of paraquat.

More information about how to use paraquat in New Zealand here.