Thiamethoxam is allowed again in Brazil by a judicial decision

Date:05-02-2024

A decision by the Federal Regional Court (TRF) of the 1st Region has revoked the restrictions on the commercialization and prohibition, suspension, or restriction on the use, production, or importation of agrochemical products containing the active ingredient thiamethoxam in Brazil. The decision overturned a notice published in February by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), which restricted the product. The TRF ruling accepted the technical and legal arguments presented by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa).

From this date forward, products containing thiamethoxam can be commercialized and recommended for use again, following the indications stated in the labels. Thiamethoxam is a second-generation neonicotinoid insecticide classified as toxicological class III (moderately toxic) and is used in various crops. "This new decision is very important, and of interest to retailers, producers, professionals, and society in general, alerting the Responsible Technician to the correct and safe use of this product, to favor the health of agricultural production, food security, and environmental protection," explains the Vegetable Health manager at Agrodefesa, Daniela Rézio.

Justification

According to the new Pesticide Law, thiamethoxam could only be suspended by Mapa, which is the body responsible for registrations and reevaluation processes of pesticides. According to the court decision, to restrict the use of a product already registered, it is necessary for the Ministry of Agriculture to establish a phytosanitary plan for the replacement of the product, aiming at the control of biological targets that might lack alternatives for integrated pest management, which did not happen in this case.

With the new decision, distributors, cooperatives, and retailers are once again authorized to commercialize products containing thiamethoxam, following the recommendations of the agronomic prescription, and Brazilian farmers may, when indicated by the responsible technician, continue to use products formulated with the active ingredient thiamethoxam, observing the label and leaflet recommendations.

"It is important to highlight that the mandatory issuance of the agronomic prescription is of fundamental importance for controlling the correct and safe use of pesticides, as well as for monitoring compliance with label and leaflet recommendations, in favor of food and environmental safety," reinforces the coordinator of Agricultural Inputs Programs of the Vegetable Health Management of Agrodefesa, Márcio Antonio de Oliveira e Silva.

"Even with the release of the use of this active ingredient, it is necessary to emphasize that the producer must apply it following the recommendations by someone duly registered with the Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy," emphasizes the coordinator of Pesticides and Bioinputs of the Vegetable Health Management of Agrodefesa, Rodrigo Baiocchi. According to him, this avoids the risk of overdosing, which can be harmful not only to pollinating insects but also to production itself and society.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)