Turkey bans 74 pesticides

Turkey has canceled the production and importing of 74 of 135 pesticides as of this year as part of European Union accession process, it has been reported. Six of the remaining pesticides will face the same fate by 2010 and the rest will be under investigation until 2015.

Authorization for some agricultural pesticides has been annulled on several grounds, including poisonous content, as a result of research carried out in EU countries since 1997, said Sedat Soykan, board member of Adana branch of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers.

While such activities have been ongoing in the EU, 135 pesticides were still legal in Turkey, he said. “We can not say that the authorization of all of the 135 pesticides has been cancelled due to health risks. For instance, some pesticides are only a health risk when used incorrectly. Some of them are not needed in the EU as the products for which these pesticides are used are not widespread or there are other alternatives. However, Turkey has continued to sell them because it could not develop any alternatives,” he said.

"Considering this situation, Turkey has arranged a calendar to cancel authorizations within the framework of the EU accession process. Gradually, alternatives will be offered for these pesticides and the number of insecticides that are beneficial against pests will increase … The chemicals in questions will be suitable to use until the end of 2010.”

Soykan said the pesticides that had been made illegal were not used very often in Turkey. However, the remaining 55 pesticides are very important, as they are a strategic necessity for Turkish agriculture, he added.

The withdrawal of the remaining 55 pesticides from the market by 2015 will be dependent on the research of alternatives, as well as consideration of the impact to the fight against harmful organisms, consumer needs and industry demands, he said. “We cannot remove pesticides that are necessary, as such a move would harm the future of agricultural production. The cancellation of authorizations has its own reasons in the EU. We should evaluate the issue with care and make a decision according to Turkey’s current situation.”