India, Bangladesh Ban Paraquat Herbicide Nationwide
The bans join restrictions in more than 70 countries on the highly toxic agricultural chemical linked to suicides and Parkinson's disease risk.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Organic Food
Live Poll
Should governments ban highly toxic farm chemicals like paraquat to protect public health?
India and Bangladesh have introduced nationwide bans on paraquat, a highly toxic agricultural herbicide. The restrictions bring both countries into line with more than 70 others that have prohibited the chemical.
Why it matters
Approximately one in five suicides worldwide involves ingestion of acutely toxic pesticides, and paraquat has been associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease. The World Health Organization identifies restrictions on highly hazardous pesticides among the most cost-effective suicide prevention measures.
Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide, and India and Bangladesh join more than 70 countries that have prohibited it. Whether the new bans reduce pesticide poisoning deaths in either country has not yet been measured.
The players
World Health Organization
The United Nations agency for international public health, which identifies restrictions on highly hazardous pesticides as among the most cost-effective suicide prevention measures.
Food and Agriculture Organization
The United Nations agency focused on food security and agriculture, which has supported governments in developing regulatory frameworks for phasing out dangerous pesticides.
The details
Both countries introduced their nationwide bans in September 2026. Evidence from South Korea, Malaysia and Sri Lanka suggests that banning highly hazardous pesticides can significantly reduce pesticide-related suicides.
Timeline
September 2026: India and Bangladesh implement nationwide paraquat bans.
November 12, 2026: The World Health Organization issues a statement welcoming the bans.
Global Trend
The bans follow the World Health Organization's promotion of restricting highly hazardous pesticides as a suicide prevention measure, and they add India and Bangladesh to the more than 70 countries already prohibiting paraquat. Evidence from South Korea, Malaysia and Sri Lanka has linked comparable bans to fewer pesticide-related suicides.
Consumers in India and Bangladesh may see fewer paraquat-treated crops entering the food supply over time, though the source does not specify how the bans will be enforced at retail. Farmers and agricultural workers will need to shift to alternative weed control methods.
The takeaway
Restrictions on highly hazardous pesticides can serve both public health and farm worker safety goals at once. Readers interested in pesticide exposure can check whether their food is produced under regulated, lower-toxicity practices.
Further reading
Explore more on Organic Food for context on how pesticide use and regulation shape what ends up on the table.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SouthAsianDaily.
Live Poll
Should governments ban highly toxic farm chemicals like paraquat to protect public health?
