Zweden sleept Europese Commissie voor de rechter na toelating van Paraquat-herbicide (en)

The Swedish government announced on Thursday (5 February) that it will take the European Commission to Court over its decision to allow the use of the hazardous herbicide Paraquat in the EU.

Paraquat has been banned in Sweden since 1983.

The European Commission's Standing Committee on the Food Chain & Animal Health voted in October 2003 to include the herbicide in a list of authorised pesticides - despite a fierce lobbying campaign by environmental groups and trade unions to ban it.

"We know that Paraquat is highly toxic and extremely hazardous to health. The use of Paraquat is associated with the risk of harm and death for thousands of people, especially in poor countries where people are unable or do not know how to protect themselves when using the pesticide. But even in the EU there are reports of poisoning", said Environment Minister Lena Sommestad.

The Court of Justice will now have to examine the Swedish Government's request to annul the Commission's decision.

The case will be followed with interest in a number of EU countries, as Paraquat is also banned or restricted in Austria (1993), Denmark (1995), Finland (1986), Slovenia (1997), Germany (1993) and Hungary (1991).

Paraquat is the third most widely used herbicide in the world. It is primarily used for weed and grass control.