Syngenta , the Swiss chemical firm , is exporting thousands of tonnes of highly toxic weedkiller paraquat , which was banned in the UK in 2007 , to developing countries from an industrial plant in the UK . Paraquat , also known by the name Musa , has been responsible for thousands of accidental deaths and suicides across the world . According to Swiss NGO Public Eye , Syngenta , which is responsible for 95 % of Europe ’s paraquat production , has exported 122,831 tonnes of the weedkiller from the UK since 2015 . Almost two thirds of the exports go to developing countries , including Brazil , Guatemala , India , Indonesia , Mexico and Venezuela .
Syngenta, the Swiss pesticide firm, is exporting thousands of tonnes of highly toxic weedkiller paraquat, which was banned in the EU in 2007, to developing countries from an industrial plant in the UK. Paraquat, also known by brand name Gramoxone, has been responsible for thousands of accidental deaths and suicides across the world. According to Swiss NGO Public Eye, Syngenta, which is responsible for 95% of Europe’s paraquat exports, has exported 122,831 tonnes of the weedkiller from the UK since 2015. Almost two thirds of the exports go to developing countries, including Brazil, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Venezuela.