Unions and health campaigners are calling for a ban on all uses of the pesticide paraquat in agriculture and an end its 'devastating health impacts'. Sue Longley of the global farmworkers' union federation IUF said her members overwhelmingly oppose paraquat use. 'Paraquat not only kills weeds, it kills workers, which is why our members, agricultural workers' unions around the world, are committed to its elimination. There are proven, less toxic alternatives,' she said. 'On banana plantations in Central America, palm oil plantations in South East Asia, and in many African countries workers suffer from the effects of paraquat on their health. The product must be banned worldwide.'

The 'Stop Paraquat' campaign has support from non-governmental organisations, trade unions, and scientists around the world and is calling for an end to the production and use of the highly toxic and harmful herbicide. A public opinion campaign hopes to increase pressure on Swiss-based Syngenta, the company producing paraquat. 'The world's largest manufacturer of paraquat, Syngenta, acknowledges the highly toxic nature of paraquat but contends that it can be safely used when the prerequisite precautions are used,' Sue Longley said. 'However, the IUF's experience indicates that these safety measures are often ignored, especially in tropical countries where heat and humidity make personal protective equipment (PPE) uncomfortable for users. Also many farmers do not provide the necessary PPE to employees and workers cannot afford to buy their own - a pair of protective gloves is equivalent to a day's pay in Kenya.' Calling for an immediate prohibition on paraquat, she said: 'This is vital in view of the number of fatal poisonings that have occurred with undiluted and diluted paraquat and the inadequate work safety standards due to lack of resources and tropical climates.'

• Stop Paraquat campaign
• IUF news release