Herbicide banned in 70 countries to be pulled from sale in Australia by chemical maker

Syngenta says it will stop selling paraquat in Australia after new regulations on chemical linked to Parkinson’s disease

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Syngenta, the producer of a herbicide banned in more than 70 countries and which has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, will stop selling paraquat in Australia, saying new regulations has made it “commercially unviable”.

The decision to pull the product follows new restrictions on the highly poisonous chemical announced by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority in June.