ENFORCEMENT against the sale of paraquat will take effect next year, said Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin.

Its sale will be deemed an offence under the Pesticides Act 1974 from January 1, following the government’s ban on imports of the herbicide, he told The Star.

Those registered to use paraquat have one year to use up their stock ahead of enforcement, he said.

Penalties under the act for those found selling and storing paraquat are a jail term of three years, or fine of RM10,000, or both.

Paraquat is currently allowed in the oil palm industry where it’s used to stunt tree growth, rubber trees, hill padi fields and pineapple stumps.

Its ban will help the government achieve its goal of promoting good agricultural practices, part of which is to reduce costs in pesticide use, Sim said.

Alternative herbicides and glyphosate have a shorter-term toxicity compared with paraquat, and is also widely used in the plantation and small farming sectors.

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub said previously paraquat has to be used more frequently, whereas alternative herbicides acted a little slower but were environmentally safer in comparison.

The cabinet’s decision to ban paraquat was made in 2002 and was followed by studies on how this would impact on the agriculture sector. The proposed ban also drew protests from farmers who prefer it for its fast-acting properties.

Paraquat is also often used in suicide cases. – November 9, 2019.