Measures controlling the use of paraquat being developed

 

FILE photo

 

BANGKOK, 20th June 2018 (NNT) - The Biotechnology Alliance Association (BAA) recently held a meeting to develop measures to control the use of certain herbicides before proposing them to the Department of Agriculture (DOA). 

The BAA meeting looked into the use of paraquat, chlorpyrifos and glyphosate herbicides and how to use them in the farming industry. Experts from educational institutions, health and agriculture-related organizations also participated in the meeting. 

They all agreed that a tracking system should be developed to monitor the importation of these chemicals in order to control the amount used in the farming sector. They also wanted research to be conducted to find safer alternatives to these substances. 

Manufacturers of paraquat, chlorpyrifos and glyphosate must be required to provide training to farmers and retailers on how to use them safely, the meeting decided. Warning labels should also be placed on the products to provide safety instructions to users. 

These herbicides should only be sold at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives’ Q shops. The BAA will ask the DOA and related agencies to review the proposed measures before seeking approval from the Hazardous Substance Committee.

 

-- nnt 2018-06-20

They say  "wanted research to be conducted to find safer alternatives to these substances.". But wait other countries have already studied this and switched to safer alternatives. So why are acting like they can't figure out the answer to this question and insinuating instead it will be a long, difficult and uncertain process?

 

The problem with their implementation is there is nothing to stop misuse. Let's be honest, you can't depend on one single person to bother reading the safety instructions. And training alone will not stop anyone from doing whatever they please. There appears to be no monitoring or enforcement of safe usage which are the most critical elements. So misuse is a given here.

 

Limiting supply is interesting, but how will it be implemented? If there isn't enough to go around who decides who gets it and who doesn't? Have a hard time seeing them actually doing anything like this. More likely they'll just continually increase supply to meet demand.

 

That photo says alot. Looks like no gloves and scarf as some sort of breathing protection. As if... update regulations to require wearing ineffective masks like regular population wear thinking it might stop spread of colds or whatever. Oh, and add a pocket full of posey and all set