The Government says groups that advocate banning the hazardous weedkiller Paraquat do not have the data to support such a call and any proposition as such will be carefully considered. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries made its position clear in a press statement released on Tuesday responding to questions from the Samoa Observer on the issue. 

M.A.F. said it made significant strides in addressing concerns related to Paraquat through collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a Pesticide Management Gap Analysis in 2023. 

The initiative primarily focused on data collection and evidence-based assessments regarding Paraquat usage in Samoa.

“The analysis revealed a notable absence of substantial data on pesticide use in Samoa, particularly from the groups advocating for a ban on paraquat,” said M.A.F. 

“Recognising the importance of data in supporting such initiatives, efforts are underway to enhance data collection mechanisms.

“It is essential to note that advocating for a total ban on paraquat necessitates the availability of viable alternatives, especially for regular users like farmers.”

The Ministry said until a suitable alternative is identified and made accessible the proposition to ban Paraquat will be carefully considered.

Furthermore, it says continuous collaboration with FAO and other international partners is underway to not only explore alternative options but also to ensure that any potential ban aligns with Samoa's obligations under the Rotterdam and related Conventions on the management of chemicals.

The Animal Protection Society (APS) and the courts raised concerns about the poisonous chemicals connected to suicides and also multiple cases of dogs being poisoned from ingesting the toxin.

However, M.A.F. said according to its consultants' findings in the Pesticide Management Gap Analysis “there was no substantial evidence from the organisations that initiated the call for a ban”. 

“They have no data or evidence to support suicide cases and dog killing, therefore direct correlation to Paraquat hasn’t been conclusively established,” said M.A.F.

The Ministry insists while there are other alternatives that farmers can use it argues that “none has proven to be effective and affordable for our farmers. 

“Bear in mind that the majority of our farmers (>85%) fall within the range of subsistence to semi-subsistence farmers, as per our 2019/2020 Agricultural Census report.”

M.A.F. added extensive time is needed for the process to ban paraquat ensuring all relevant considerations, policies, and laws are followed. 

Meanwhile, according to the United States Government, Paraquat is a toxic chemical that is widely used as an herbicide (plant killer), primarily for weed and grass control.

In the United States, Paraquat is available primarily as a liquid in various strengths. The US Environmental Protection Agency classifies paraquat as “restricted use.” This means that it can be used only by people who are licensed applicators

In 2019, the Fijian Government banned the use of Paraquat. It said in a statement that the ban is imperative due to many factors; Paraquat will be banned because of its effect on human health, exposure to paraquat causes short-term health effects such as injury to the eyes, nosebleeds, irritation, and burns to the skin and other parts of the body.

“The World Health Organization has classified the toxicity level of Paraquat as Class II which is moderately hazardous; but there is a notion to believe it should be among the Class I because of its acute toxicity, delayed effects and the lack of an antidote,” said the statement.

“Exposure, even to relatively low doses, during critical periods in childhood, may adversely affect the development of brain functions and it has been found to also cause cancer and decrease testosterone.

"Additionally, Paraquat was the second most commonly used means of suicide, involving 117 cases which equates for 21 percent of total suicide cases and also accounted for 27 percent of attempted suicides, 144 cases in total in Fiji from 2014-2018."

Read the full response on Page 10.