India bans Paraquat herbicide

The Indian government, through the India — Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, issued a draft notification on July 13, 2026, imposing a complete ban on the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution, and use of paraquat dichloride, a highly toxic herbicide, under Section 27 of the Insecticides Act, 1968. The ban, effective immediately, comes after years of advocacy by toxicologists, doctors, and agricultural experts. Paraquat, banned in over 70 countries including the European Union, United Kingdom, China, and Germany, has no specific antidote and causes fatal lung fibrosis and organ damage. Stakeholders have 30 days to submit objections before the order is finalized. The ban is seen as a potential first step toward restricting other hazardous pesticides still used in India.