. 2023 Jan 9;30(7):16984–17008. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-24951-0

Table 7.

A summary of responses provided by seven current/former pesticide regulators on the reasons behind paraquat bans in their respective countries and the processes/stakeholders involved during the implementation of the ban

Reasons for ban	Data used	Justification	How was the ban and phase out communicated to growers?	How were growers supported to transition away from paraquat?	Stakeholders involved
-Paraquat-related suicides -Highly toxic -No antidote -Long-term health effects -Environmental effects -Poisoning of domestic pets	-Overall pesticide suicide data -Paraquat suicide data -Paraquat use -Hospital admission data -Scientific evidence (including those provided by international organizations and other countries)	-Following consultations and workshops, the conclusion was drawn that only a ban could be effective to avoid deaths from paraquat -The rate of death was significantly higher than the other pesticide formulations of WHO class II that were available -Information on the harmful effects of paraquat on people, animals, ecosystems, and the environment, including suicide cases	-Via agriculture ministries, government, extension services, and demonstration plots -Training agri-input suppliers -Public awareness raising/media campaigns -Posters/leaflets giving advice on the ban and on herbicide and non-herbicide alternatives (including posting in posters in agri-dealer shops) -Via pesticide industry networks -Via farmers’ organisations -Via website and letter to approval holders	-Training of agricultural extension officers and farmers in alternatives by Department of Agriculture -Field work, advising, and training farmers on how to manage weeds, select appropriate herbicides, get effective use, and monitoring for paraquat in shops -Strengthening extension services, recruiting more staff, and improving presence in rural areas -Farmers were informed of alternative pesticides to paraquat and demonstrations of the effectiveness of the recommended alternatives	-Ministry of Health -Ministry of Agriculture (both extension and research) -Palm oil/Cocoa/Pineapple Boards -National Poison Centre -Non-government organisations -Pesticide industry (manufacturers, registrants, sellers) -Farmers’ associations -Local community organizations

Reasons for ban

Data used

Justification

How was the ban and phase out communicated to growers?

How were growers supported to transition away from paraquat?

Stakeholders involved

-Paraquat-related suicides

-Highly toxic

-No antidote

-Long-term health effects

-Environmental effects

-Poisoning of domestic pets

-Overall pesticide suicide data

-Paraquat suicide data

-Paraquat use

-Hospital admission data

-Scientific evidence (including those provided by international organizations and other countries)

-Following consultations and workshops, the conclusion was drawn that only a ban could be effective to avoid deaths from paraquat

-The rate of death was significantly higher than the other pesticide formulations of WHO class II that were available

-Information on the harmful effects of paraquat on people, animals, ecosystems, and the environment, including suicide cases

-Via agriculture ministries, government, extension services, and demonstration plots

-Training agri-input suppliers

-Public awareness raising/media campaigns

-Posters/leaflets giving advice on the ban and on herbicide and non-herbicide alternatives (including posting in posters in agri-dealer shops)

-Via pesticide industry networks

-Via farmers’ organisations

-Via website and letter to approval holders

-Training of agricultural extension officers and farmers in alternatives by Department of Agriculture

-Field work, advising, and training farmers on how to manage weeds, select appropriate herbicides, get effective use, and monitoring for paraquat in shops

-Strengthening extension services, recruiting more staff, and improving presence in rural areas

-Farmers were informed of alternative pesticides to paraquat and demonstrations of the effectiveness of the recommended alternatives

-Ministry of Health

-Ministry of Agriculture (both extension and research)

-Palm oil/Cocoa/Pineapple Boards

-National Poison Centre

-Non-government organisations

-Pesticide industry (manufacturers, registrants, sellers)

-Farmers’ associations

-Local community organizations