A court in southern Brazil recently ordered an immediate ban on 2,4-D, one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, in the Campanha Gaucha region in the south of the country. This region is an important base for the production of fine wines and apples in Brazil.
This ruling was made in early September in response to a civil lawsuit filed by the local farmers’ association. The farmers’ association claimed that the chemical had caused damage to vineyards and apple orchards through agent drift. According to the judgment, 2,4-D shall not be used anywhere in the Campanha Gaucha area. In other areas of Rio Grande do Sul, it is prohibited to spray this herbicide within 50 meters of vineyards and apple orchards. This ban will remain in effect until the state government establishes a complete monitoring and law enforcement system, including setting up no-use zones in high-risk areas.
Local authorities were given 120 days to implement the new system. Failure to comply will result in a daily fine of 10,000 reais (approximately 2,000 US dollars), which will be transferred to the state’s environmental compensation fund. The ruling also requires the government to widely publicize this ban to farmers, agrochemical retailers and the public.
2,4-D (2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) has been widely used since the 1940s, mainly in soybean, wheat and corn fields. However, its volatile nature and tendency to drift to nearby areas have made it the focus of controversy between grain growers and fruit producers in southern Brazil. Vineyards and apple orchards are particularly sensitive to this chemical substance. Even a small drift can seriously affect the quality of fruits, causing significant economic consequences for the wine and fruit export industries. Growers believe that without stricter supervision, the entire harvest will be at risk.
This is not the first time that Rio Grande do Sul has clashed over 2,4-D. Local authorities had previously suspended the use of the herbicide, but this is one of the strictest restrictions implemented in Brazil to date. Agricultural experts say the legal case could set a precedent for stricter pesticide regulation in other Brazilian states, highlighting the tensions between different agricultural models: high-intensity grain cultivation and the fruit and wine industries that rely on product quality and environmental safety.
Although the ruling can still be appealed, the 2,4-D injunction will remain in effect until other decisions are made by the High Court.
Post time: Sep-17-2025