Paraquat and diquat proposed regulatory decisions

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) invited written submissions on the proposed regulatory decisions for the reconsiderations of paraquat and diquat, which were published in the APVMA Special Gazette, 30 July 2024. Submissions were considered and final regulatory decisions for paraquat and diquat have now been published in the APVMA Special Gazette, 23 June 2026.

Submissions received

Over 160 submissions were received from stakeholders in relation to the proposed regulatory decisions on paraquat and diquat. The APVMA received permission to publish 123 submissions and these submissions have been published on the APVMA website. Submissions included a range of concerns and supporting information in relation to, but not limited to:

• the assumptions used in worker health and safety and environmental risk assessments, both generally and in relation to specific crops
• calls to ban paraquat due to claimed link with Parkinson’s disease
• provision of additional data in situations where residues data had been identified as inadequate
• the impact that the decision as proposed would have on growers, particular in their ability to control herbicide resistant weeds.

A summary of the submissions and the APVMA’s response to them is included in the consideration of submissions published on the APVMA website. A separate consideration document reviewing submissions raising concerns regarding a perceived link with Parkinson’s disease is also published on the APVMA website as consideration of neurotoxicity submissions.

All submissions related to the scientific information used and methods of the assessments conducted by the APVMA were considered prior to finalisation of the reconsideration and publication of the final regulatory decision.

Submissions related to commercial or financial impacts were noted, however these cannot be considered by the APVMA to determine whether a chemical meets the statutory criteria (safety, efficacy, trade and labelling) in the Agvet Code.

Consultation feedback

The APVMA has considered all submissions received and published the final regulatory decision for the reconsideration of paraquat and diquat.