Increasing pressure from, especially, farmworkers has forced the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development to ban more than 60 pesticides alleged to be harmful to people.
While scientific evidence supports public concern that some of these pesticides can indeed cause cancer and genetic disorders and affect reproductive health, an expert says the real issue is greater protection of farmworkers.
The department of agriculture, land reform and rural development will phase-out about 64 active ingredients and pesticide formulations that are harmful to humans. It intends to prohibit the use of these harmful products from 1 June 2024.
Reggie Ngcobo, spokesperson for minister Thoko Didiza, tells Food For Mzansi that “considering the widespread sale and use the products, the department wishes to impress upon all manufactures, registration holders and users to use this period to phase out the existing stocks.”
He said that on 14 April 2022, a notice was issued which provided the clear due dates upon which carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic chemicals (CMR chemicals) would be prohibited in South Africa.
‘No silver bullet solution’
Meanwhile, Elriza Theron, marketing and communications manager for CropLife South Africa, points to what she believes is “a bigger problem” – farmworkers not being provided with protective clothing when working with pesticides.
She tells Food For Mzansi that pesticides only become a cause of health concern when it is applied incorrectly, or when protective clothing is not worn and/or clear product instructions are not followed.
“If products are used precisely according to label instructions with the accompanying of personal protective clothing, then the harm to humans is mitigated,” she explains.
While some civil organisations representing farmworkers in Mzansi have also spoken out the harmful nature of certain pesticides on humans, Theron argues that there is no silver bullet solution to this global problem.
“It depends on a magnitude of factors, which includes the inherent mammal toxicity of a substance, the route of exposure, the dosage of exposure, the age of the person and the physical condition of the person.”
Toxicity, she says, is one thing, but issues of dose and risk make it more complex. It therefore needs to be viewed within that context. “The dose makes it a poison or a remedy, which is why it is imperative to use any product, whether household, medicinal or for pest control, according to label directions.”
No facilities to dispose harmful pesticides
Amid the banning of certain pesticides, some farmworkers have called on government to review the country’s “ancient’ regulations on agricultural pesticides. Currently, the pesticide industry is regulated by the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Seeds and Remedies Act (FFFAR) that dates back to 1947.
Draft regulations regarding the prohibition of CMR chemicals was published in the Government Gazette on 18 June 2021 and is in line with the pesticide management policy published in 2010.
Ngcobo tells Food For Mzansi that Didiza’s department is currently consolidating public comments received on it. The department hopes to have this process finalised before the end of the year.
“There were not many comments. They were [mostly] from the affected industry stakeholders (manufactures and users as well as advocacy groups, especially those who oppose the use of such products).”
Asked why these comments have not been consolidated in over a year, Ngcobo explains that the department was avoiding litigation.
“[Which is why we are] giving manufactures and all users enough time to dispose of the product. The other challenge [is that] the disposal of the product must be done correctly, hence we said they must finish whatever stock they have before 1 June 2024.”
Ngcobo cautions that this is critically important as South Africa does not have adequate facilities where these products can be disposed.
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