Brazil Anvisa U-turns with three-year paraquat OK

摘要

The Brazilian national health surveillance agency, the Anvisa, has reapproved the herbicide, paraquat, for a period of three years. The Brazilian national health surveillance agency, the Anvisa, has reapproved the herbicide, paraquat, for a period of three years, the Ministry of Agriculture says. The agency “reviewed its earlier position of a suspension of the herbicide on the Brazilian market while the process of discontinuity of the active ingredient is open for three years”, the Ministry explains. The Anvisa ordered a threeyear phase-out of the herbicide in September. The action was being taken due to concerns over risks to human health for workers handling the product. Immediate restrictive measures for worker safety were imposed, such as: only application by closed cabin tractors to be allowed; its use on various crops, and as a desiccant to be prohibited, and its sale in containers of less than 5 litres. New rules on user training and labelling were also ordered.