The government is preparing to impose a nationwide ban on paraquat dichloride, one of India’s most extensively used herbicides, following mounting concerns over its severe health risks and toxicity profile. An expert panel comprising doctors and agricultural scientists unanimously recommended a complete prohibition on the herbicide after reviewing evidence linking it to fatal poisoning, kidney failure, lung fibrosis and Parkinson’s disease. The proposed move could impact a large agrochemical market involving more than 1,500 licence holders while significantly reshaping weed-management practices across Indian agriculture.
Expert Panel Flags Serious Public Health Risks
The recommendation follows an extensive review of paraquat dichloride’s safety, toxicity and long-term public health implications. Medical experts have raised concerns over the herbicide’s potential to cause severe illness through ingestion, inhalation and even skin absorption. A February 2026 study published in The National Medical Journal of India described Paraquat as a “highly toxic compound” associated with high mortality rates and long-term health complications.
The study was authored by Bharadwaj Sai, Satya Murthy Malla and Ananth Rupesh Kattamreddy of Andhra Medical College. The researchers stated that Paraquat poisoning often proves fatal and can lead to hepato-renal failure, progressive lung fibrosis and Parkinson’s disease. They also highlighted growing concern among Indian doctors regarding both intentional and accidental exposure cases.
States Push for Permanent Ban
Pressure for stricter regulation has intensified in recent years, particularly from states such as Telangana and Odisha. Telangana imposed a sixty-day ban on the sale, distribution and use of Paraquat from April 1, the maximum restriction period permitted to states under current regulations. The state government also urged the government to implement a permanent nationwide prohibition. Odisha introduced similar restrictions in 2023. Earlier, Kerala had also attempted to sustain curbs on the herbicide, although courts later ruled that states cannot enforce indefinite bans without government approval.
Widely Used Across Indian Agriculture
Despite ongoing safety concerns, paraquat dichloride continues to remain deeply embedded in Indian farming practices because of its low cost and rapid weed-control action. Farmers extensively use the herbicide in tea, rubber, coffee, cotton, paddy, wheat, maize, potato, grape and apple cultivation. In addition, it is widely applied for weed management in canals, ponds and waterways. As a non-selective herbicide, Paraquat plays a major role in plantation agriculture and labour-scarce farming regions where manual weed control is expensive and difficult.
Government Revisits Earlier Regulatory Approach
The proposed nationwide ban would mark a major shift in the government’s earlier position on paraquat regulation. In December 2015, the Registration Committee under the Agriculture Ministry had allowed continued use of the herbicide with stricter safeguards, including enhanced packaging standards, warning labels and medical training for poisoning management.
The decision followed recommendations from the Anupam Verma Committee, which examined 66 pesticides banned, restricted or withdrawn in several other countries. Subsequently, the government constituted another subcommittee to reassess the herbicide’s safety, efficacy and toxicity profile amid continuing health concerns.
Imports and Domestic Sales Continue to Rise
Trade data suggest that India’s dependence on Paraquat has continued despite increasing scrutiny. According to sources, imports of the herbicide rose sharply from 8,598 tonnes in 2019-20 to 20,786 tonnes in 2022-23. Domestic sales, which had fallen from 1.13 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 74,490 tonnes in 2020-21, later recovered to nearly 1.05 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, reflecting sustained agricultural demand.
Farmers Concerned About Rising Weed-Control Costs
While public health experts support the proposed ban, agricultural economists and scientists caution that replacing Paraquat may substantially increase cultivation costs for farmers. The February 2026 medical study noted that alternative herbicides could raise weed-management expenses by two to ten times. Meanwhile, non-chemical weed-control methods may cost “tens to hundreds of times” more than existing practices.
However, the researchers argued that the long-term health burden and mortality associated with Paraquat exposure outweigh the economic benefits of continued usage. As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, the Centre’s final decision is expected to have significant implications for India’s agrochemical industry, public health policy and future weed-management strategies across multiple crop sectors.
