Committee urged to delay agrochemical bans: leak

[snoop1130]

Committee urged to delay agrochemical bans: leak

By The Nation

 

 

The Hazardous Substance Committee may fail to reach a decision on whether to ban paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos, said Apichin Jotikashira, Industry Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary.

 

Apichin, who is a committee member, told environmental activists and those who claim they have been affected by agrochemicals today that if new information about the impact of banning the herbicides and pesticides was presented, the committee may delay a decision. 

 

His remarks were made before the committee met to reconsider a phase-out of paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos.

 

“We would like to ensure that the committee members will make a decision on this issue very carefully and transparently by considering every aspect of a ban with the interests of the country as a first priority,” he said.

 

“There are regulations for the committee to follow during the meeting and decision-making procedures. Every member is free to make their own decision without being led or persuaded by the head of the committee. We may not even have to vote on this issue if a consensus is reached.”

 

Meanwhile, the BioThai Foundation has leaked the document, which it alleged was a detailed proposal of the Agriculture Department asking the committee not to ban the three chemicals, delaying any order for three years.

 

According to the leaked document, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry agreed that Thailand should stop using the agrochemicals.

 

However, a majority of Thailand’s 25 million farmers heavily rely on the substances so any phase out the chemicals should be carried out step-by-step to allow farmers time to change their habits and seek alternatives.

 

The document also suggested that the committee should instead consider the total banning of paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos after the five agriculture ministry regulations to restrict the usage and limit imports of the three farm chemicals had been enforced for two years.

 

BioThai accused agriculture minister Grisada Boonrach of attempting to postpone the banning of the three agrochemicals as he wanted his successor to make the unpopular decision.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30364124

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-14

[Lungstib]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

a majority of Thailand’s 25 million farmers heavily rely on the substances so any phase out the chemicals should be carried out step-by-step to allow farmers time to change their habits and seek alternatives.

Leaving the safety of our food and ground water totally in the hands of people who have shown no inclination to make those changes. These 3 chemicals are almost the total stock or our local agri supply shop. With no options to revert to how will change ever take place.

[kannot]

17 minutes ago, Lungstib said:

Leaving the safety of our food and ground water totally in the hands of people who have shown no inclination to make those changes. These 3 chemicals are almost the total stock or our local agri supply shop. With no options to revert to how will change ever take place.

Which is  why I  posed the question for alternatives in the other thread which as far as I can see realistically there are  none due to labour shortages NO ONE by me wants to work on the land so getting weed  pullers is almost impossible.

[edwinchester]

One of my Thai friends has a business selling fertilizers and weedkillers.

All the customers are interested in is killing the weeds as quickly as possible.

I was there a few weeks ago when a customer from the previous day returned to complain that the glyphosate wasn't working and didn't want to know when told it would take up to a week to see results.

He left with a barrel of paraquat because he wanted the weeds dead today.

Not many farmers here seem that interested in the consequences their farming practices have on the environment which doesn't bode well for Thailand and it's citizens.

[ChrisY1]

"with the interests of the country as a first priority,” 

What a crock! The only 1st priority here is business interests......