Decision on paraquat ban to be made on Wednesday

[webfact]

Decision on paraquat ban to be made on Wednesday

By The Nation

 

 

THAILAND’S National Committee on Hazardous Substances Control will on Wednesday decide whether to ban the domestic use of paraquat, a herbicide used to control weeds, after consumer protection and industrial groups joined hands to press for the ban.
 

At least three of the country’s 47 sugar refineries said they supported the proposed ban on paraquat, which critics said had adverse environmental and other impacts. Dr Yupadee Sirisinsuk, a consumer protection advocate, said the chemical herbicide is hazardous to users, consumers and the environment so it should no longer be allowed into the country.

 

She said academics in the agricultural sector had approached this issue from the risk assessment perspective, but they had not given enough attention to the precautionary principle. So far, three sugar refineries – Mitrphol Co, Kaset Thai International Sugar Corp, and Thai Ekkarak Sugar Co – have announced their support for the paraquat ban, but the response of other sugar refineries remains unclear.

 

Anan Dalodom

 

At present, Thai farmers extensively use paraquat as herbicides, making the country one of the world’s top-five users as a result there had been adverse impacts among farmers who deployed the chemical frequently in addition to impacts on the eco-system and consumers.

 

Last year, the country imported 44.5 million kilograms of paraquat, doubling the previous year’s imports. The widespread use of this chemical has led to residues in the country’s food chain with adverse impacts on consumers.

 

Sukan Sangwanna, a sugarcane farmer, warned there would be protests if the chemical were banned as it was widely used by sugarcane, tapioca and rubber tree planters.

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30345875

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-21

 

[wotsdermatter]

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

Sukan Sangwanna, a sugarcane farmer, warned there would be protests if the chemical were banned as it was widely used by sugarcane, tapioca and rubber tree planters.

So, a sugar farmer is more concerned with his wealth than the effect these chemicals have on the health of everybody using what he produces.  Maybe, just maybe, if his own health suddenly deteriorated as a result of breathing it in as he is spraying it he may have a change of thinking.  Or does he have others do the spraying for him as he hides in a different location so that he does not inhale the toxic substance?

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The widespread use of this chemical has led to residues in the country’s food chain with adverse impacts on consumers.

where is the debate and indecision on this ? many countries, all, seemingly, wiser than thailand have made this decision to ban; some quite a while ago

[connda]

Protect the health of the public -- or -- Protect the interests of Big Ag? 

 

My bet is the latter.  But we'll see.....