The tragic incident in Bihar, India, where 23 school children died after eating a school meal contaminated with monocrotophos, is an important reminder to speed up the withdrawal of highly hazardous pesticides from markets in developing countries, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.
The incident in Bihar was the consequence of a reuse of an empty pesticide conatiner. It underscores that secure storage of pesticide products and safe disposal of empty pesticide containers are risk reduction measures which are just as crucial as more prominent field-oriented steps like wearing proper protective masks and clothing.
Among international organizations, including FAO, the World Health Organization and the World Bank, there is consensus that “highly hazardous products should not be available to small scale farmers who lack knowledge and the proper sprayers, protective gear and storage facilities to manage such products appropriately.”
“FAO therefore recommends that governments in developing countries should speed up the withdrawal of highly hazardous pesticides from their markets.”
Withdrawing the most dangerous pesticides is useful indeed.
Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that pesticides are useful when used properly…
Read the full FAO Press release
Read a more complete article by Euractiv
