Spot-checks take govt closer to ban on dangerous farm chemicals

By The Nation

 

 

Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Mananya Thaiset paid unannounced visits to two private businesses on Thursday (October 3) to follow up on government plans to ban three hazardous farm chemicals.

 

She made a random check on a production, import and distribution company at the Bangpoo Industrial Estate in Samut Prakan and its affiliate in Bangkok’s Bang Phlat district, both of which had previously handled paraquat, chloropyrifos and glyphosate.

 

All licences to import the chemicals were revoked on June 30 and a ban on their possession and use is expected to be in place by the end of this year.

 

Records shown to Mananya indicated the Samut Prakan parent company in 2018 imported 580,000 kilograms of paraquat and stocked 300,000kg. This year it imported 500,000kg of glyphosate and stocked 270,000kg.

 

Its affiliate has stocked none of the targeted chemicals.

 

“Today’s survey continues on from the last one,” the deputy minister said. “The main purpose is to check the real numbers of stocked chemicals. Exporting and importing these three chemicals are both tax-exempt, so we may provide a way to impose taxes on them to raise money to publicise the ban, which will ultimately benefit farmers, such as encouraging organic farming,” Mananya said.

 

Surveys will be conducted across the country ready for a meeting on Monday where the measures to achieve a total ban will be discussed, she said.

 

Surmsuk Salakpetch, deputy director-general of the Department of Agriculture, said her agency was duty-bound to provide accurate data on the risks posed by the chemicals’ use. 

 

“We have proceeded according to scope of the Hazardous Substance Act and we do not oppose banning these hazardous farm chemicals,” she said.

 

“The data we gather are important to consider, such as the chemicals’ toxicity to living creatures and residue lingering in plants and the soil.”

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30377041

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-10-03

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Are you saying madam that your ministry still after much investigation over several years doesn't have the data?

 

 

Edited October 3, 20196 yr by Scott

OK, IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING TO stop using these nasty chemicals.....but what is the environmentally friendly alternative?  So far I haven't heard a thing about reasonably priced alternatives.  My wife buys glyphosate in a....I think it's a 4L plastic container....for 400 baht!  Is the environmentally friendly alternative going to be in that price range???  And is it going to be as good at killing weeds???

There will be very few farmers supporting the ban. All of the people in support of it will not be removing any weeds by hand I am certain. It's going to be a little like going back to typewriters after you have had a computer for 20 years. And there is going to be way more burning. That's a guarantee.

30 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

There will be very few farmers supporting the ban. All of the people in support of it will not be removing any weeds by hand I am certain. It's going to be a little like going back to typewriters after you have had a computer for 20 years. And there is going to be way more burning. That's a guarantee.

NO ONE wants to  pull weeds by hand anymore, I did it here for years  with staff but even finding  staff now is a  problem,  currently  have two who are great but they are already in their 50's, younger  people....forget it.

9 hours ago, Grumpy John said:

OK, IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING TO stop using these nasty chemicals.....but what is the environmentally friendly alternative?  So far I haven't heard a thing about reasonably priced alternatives.  My wife buys glyphosate in a....I think it's a 4L plastic container....for 400 baht!  Is the environmentally friendly alternative going to be in that price range???  And is it going to be as good at killing weeds???

I think you ask the same question in each thread. If you took 1h on google and YouTube you would get your answer. Since you never specify your production and needs the simple answer is no. 

9 hours ago, Grumpy John said:

OK, IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING TO stop using these nasty chemicals.....but what is the environmentally friendly alternative?  So far I haven't heard a thing about reasonably priced alternatives.  My wife buys glyphosate in a....I think it's a 4L plastic container....for 400 baht!  Is the environmentally friendly alternative going to be in that price range???  And is it going to be as good at killing weeds???

Most people say they want these chemicals banned,are they willing to pay the extra price to pay 10 people to chip weeds for a week every couple of months?My wife does this and is going backwards fast.So if people want this stuff banned they either pay the higher price or go without because farmers can't be expected to carry the extra costs alone.

35 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Most people say they want these chemicals banned,are they willing to pay the extra price to pay 10 people to chip weeds for a week every couple of months?

 

Absolutely 2 thumbs up YES!!! Imagine all the jobs in Isaan for poor people who have no money and no skills that will be created. I would love to give the money to them (and then some) and eat clean food instead of giving money to the big, rich chemical companies that pollute our food and the environment. The current way is plain stupid.

 

The major issue the Thai Government is facing in "Monsanto" and corruption!

Just ban it... farmers will soon find an alternative.

I agree...just ban it so we all can benefit.   These poisonous toxic pesticides have no place for living things like plants and gardens.   Choose your favorite search engine to look at how seriously horrific these pesticides are and please do not post unless you have done your homework...because your lack of information and others lack are signing a sickness/death warrant for the rest of us.