[NYTr] Chilean Congress aims to ban the most dangerous pesticides

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CBGnetwork - Aug 3, 2007
http://www.cbgnetwork.org

Chile: Congress bill aimed to ban the most dangerous pesticides


Pesticide Action Network Latin America
Asociacisn Nacional de Mujeres Rurales e Indmgenas
National Association of Rural and Indigenous Women

Press Release, July 17, 2007


Civil society organizations backed up Congress bill aimed to ban
the most dangerous pesticides used in Chile.

Valparamso, Chile / Representatives from Pesticide Action Network
- Latin America (RAP-AL) and the National Association of Rural and
Indigenous Women (ANAMURI) made a sound speech in front of members
of the Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development Committee of the
Chilean House of Representatives, backing up a bill (*) aimed to
ban pesticides whose effects on human health and the environment
are proved to be harmful.

This bill (Number 4877-01) was introduced by congressmen Marco
Enrmquez-Ominami, Sergio Aguils, Reni Alinco, Marcelo Dmaz, Roberto
Lesn, Fulvio Rossi, Alejandro Sule and Eugenio Tuma as an answer
to citizen concerns about the use of class 1a and 1b pesticides
(extremely hazardous and highly hazardous, according  to WHO).

Marma Elena Rozas, Coordinator of Alliance for a Better Quality of
Life (RAP-AL CHILE) and Alicia Muqoz, Secretary General of the
National Association of Rural and Indigenous Women (ANAMURI), were
invited to attend the ordinary meeting of the Agriculture Committee
held on July 17th, 2007, in order to present their points of view
regarding this bill. They stated that "there is no way to guarantee
that pesticides classified in groups 1a and 1b will not cause serious
hazards to the environment and to human health. The cancellation
of the registry of these toxic substances will prevent further
intoxications and deaths in Chile. OECD countries have banned or
severely restricted these pesticides, and even the FAO has been
asking developing countries, for many years, to ban their use as
soon as possible". They also underlined the necessity of a law that
will not only ban pesticides with well known toxic and acute impacts
on people's health but will also ban o pesticides with serious
chronic effects, such as tumors, cancer and severe disruptions of
reproductive, neurological, endocrine and immune systems. "Manufacturers
and retailers should be requested, at least, to ad risk warnings
about these chronic effects when labeling pesticides, as it is being
done in the European Union", stated Marma Elena Rozas.

Alicia Muqoz described the dramatic situation of agricultural
workers, both women and men, as well as that of rural families
exposed to the intensive use of pesticides and fertilizers, enphasizing
the imperious necessity that the Deputies fulfil their role in the
regulation of agrochemicals and the enforcement of legal provisions
on this subject. The delegate of ANAMURI remembered that in 2000,
Deputy Adriana Muqoz and other Representatives introduced a bill
aimed to protect rural workers and their communities from the use
of pesticides, which still is not  a law.

Pesticide poisonings

In 2005 there were 19 fatalities due to poisoning and 785 cases of
poisoning reported in Chile. In 668 cases it was possible to identify
the pesticide involved and 23% of these cases (153 events) were
associated to pesticides classified as 1a and 1b. There are 117
cases the name of the pesticide involved remains unknown.

The higher poisoning data is associated to pesticides belonging to
WHO's official regulatory categories 1a and 1b (extremely and highly
hazardous pesticide). Some developed countries have banned those
pesticides.

Pesticides of 1a and 1b groups associated with 2005 fatalities due
to poisoning are: Paraquat, methomyl, metamidophos, coumaphos and
carbofurane.

Other pesticides involved: sulphur, dimethoate, diazinon and aldicarb.
70% of these cases were suicides and the rest were unintentional
and happened in work times.

1a and 1b pesticides involved in 2005 reports of poisonings

Methamidophos 97 poisonings

Methomyl: 24  poisonings

Aldicarb: 14  poisonings

Carbofurane: 7 poisonings

Aluminum Phosphide: 6 poisonings

Methyl bromide: 6 poisonings

12 deaths due to poisoning happened in 2004. 34% of poisoned cases
had to be treated in public health care facilities. In 2004 paraquat
was responsible for 22% of fatalities in poisoning events and
metamidophos was responsible for 8% of deaths linked to poisonings.

Chile: Manufacturers of pesticides belonging to WHO's official
regulatory categories 1a and 1b

Bayer CropScience A.G and related companies:

Methamidophos: Tamaron 600 SL

Azinphos Methyl: Cotnion 35 WP

Formetanate HCI: Dicarzol 500 SP

Methiocarb: Mesurol 500 SC

Deltamethrine+Endosulfan: Decisdan 328 EC

Methamidophos +Cyfluthrin: Baythroid TM 525 SL

Dow AgroSciences and related companies

Methomyl: Metomil

ANASAC: Paraquat

Paramak 276

Makhteshim-Agan and related companies

Carbofurane: Carbodan 48%SC

Methomyl: Methomex 90 PS

Endosulfan: Thionex 35 EC

Point International LTD (England):

Oxamyl Vydate L

Dichlorvos: Point DDVP 100-EC

Methomyl: Balazo 90 SP

Makhteshim Chemicals Works Ltda. (Israel):

Azinphos Methyl

Source: Health Secretary, Exposure Surveillance Net REVEP, Ministerio
de Salud)

(*) The bill has a single Article saying: The following second
segment must be added to the 35th section belonging to the Decreto
Ley 3.557 dated February 9, 1981: Besides what has been stated in
the former segment, pesticides classified in 1a and 1b groups are
banned. These pesticides cannot be imported, produced, sold, dealt
or used. A bylaw will update the list of pesticides classified in
these groups according lines set by HMO.

Infringement will be punished with a 50 to 500 UTM fine".