Activists in Thailand call for ban on four toxic pesticides

Farmers and consumer protection activists have called on the Department of Agriculture to ban the use of four toxic farm chemicals to protect farmers and consumers from cancer-causing substances.

Withoon Lienchamroon, director of BioThai and representative of the Thailand Pesticide Alert Network (ThaiPAN), yesterday said the DOA should remove the four pesticides - carbofuran, dicrotophos, EPN and methomyl - from the list of pesticides approved for use in the country.

The removal of these toxic chemicals would promote the safety of Thai food for both domestic and overseas consumption, he said. The substances have already been banned in several countries including the United States, Canada, the UK, India, Malaysia, Vietnam and some European countries, Mr Withoon said.

The network threatened to seek an Administrative Court order to remove the substances from the list if the DOA refused to comply with their demand.

ThaiPAN's petition came as the DOA is working on the registration of farm chemicals which are approved for use in the country.

Under the 2008 Hazardous Chemical Act, the list of chemicals allowed for commercial farming purposes must be reviewed every five years.

Mr Withoon said the the DOA should not bow to pressure from farm chemical traders who wanted the registration period for farm chemicals to be extended for two more years.

Foundation for Consumers secretary-general Saree Aongsomwang said the DOA's registration of farm chemicals should be done in a more transparent manner with participation from all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, a senior official from the DOA said the chemicals were likely to stay on the list as "their toxicity level is rather low".

"If farmers use them correctly and strictly follow the instructions, there should not be any problems," said the official who declined to be named.