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GRAMOXONE |
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While the vast majority of the
Syngenta product
portfolio is uncontroversial, some products have attracted particular
attention, such as the herbicide paraquat,
the active ingredient
in GRAMOXONE®.
GRAMOXONE® is a non-selective
contact herbicide widely used in 120 countries. It revolutionized
weed control when it first came on the market over 40 years ago,
and remains a valuable herbicide tool for farmers in developed
and developing countries.
While it is safe
to users under normal
conditions and is
not among the World
Health Organization's
most toxic products,
like all crop protection
products it is toxic if swallowed in sufficient quantities
or not used in line
with instructions.
This may happen by
accident if it is
stored improperly or in an inappropriate
container, such as
a soft drink bottle,
or sometimes deliberately in tragic cases of suicide
attempts. This has
given rise to some
concerns, particularly
in developing countries.
We take particular
care to carry out
thorough stewardship
with GRAMOXONE®, helping to train our workforce who in turn train
their customers how to use and store the product  properly, as
part of a comprehensive program to ensure our products can be
used safely in the developing and developed world.
To prevent accidental
and deliberate ingestion, Syngenta has built into this product
three safety factors to avoid mistakes and to deter misuse: a
blue dye, an alerting agent (a strong and deterring odor) and
a powerful emetic (to induce vomiting). Treatment regimes have
been developed to manage both mistaken and deliberate ingestion.
Syngenta also works with poison centers and suicide prevention
organizations worldwide to help address specific problems.
Breakthrough Product
Packaging
 Syngenta has developed
an innovative packaging
solution to China's
crop chemical packaging
issues PortA Pac™.
Many farmers only need
small amounts of crop
protection products,
but until now have
had to purchase the
standard amount. This
creates concerns either
with retailers decanting
product into other
bottles, or farmers
buying more than they
need, presenting issues
of how to
store unused product
safely. Packaging
waste
is also a growing problem.
The Syngenta PortA
Pac™ system includes
a 10 litre barrel,
a rationing valve and
a 200ml shuttle pack.
The system is designed
to reduce exposure
during dispensing and
application and lower
packaging costs. The
shuttle pack allows
retailers to dispense
and sell small amounts
safely, with guaranteed
accurate dosage and
easy carrying. The
shuttle pack can be
reused, and Syngenta
will systematically
collect and incinerate
the barrels, reducing
packaging waste by
nearly half.
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