Bermuda Health Minister: Importation of
Roundup weed spray suspended
Bermuda Ministry of Health
Today in Bermuda, 11 May 2015
The importation of Roundup weed spray has been suspended
following the results of a recent study, Health Minister Jeanne
Atherden announced today.
Full statement:
The Ministry of Health, Seniors and Environment is committed to
promoting safe practices as part of our stewardship of Bermuda's
delicate environment. Technical officers stay abreast of trends and
scientific developments to ensure that our regulation of all aspects
of how we influence the environment around us remains safe and in
keeping with best practice.
Following a recent scientific study carried out by a leading
cancer agency, the importation of weed spray "Roundup" has been
suspended.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the
specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO),
recently asked a group of experts from around the world to spend a
year examining the data from peer-reviewed studies about Glyphosate,
which is the active ingredient in Roundup.
As a result of this research, the (IARC) reported that it had
assessed the cancer causing risk to humans of five pesticides
including glyphosate.
According to the assessment, the herbicide glyphosate along with
two other insecticides were classified as probably carcinogenic to
humans. This description is used when there is limited evidence of
cancer causing effect on humans and sufficient evidence of it in
experimental animals. Limited evidence means that a positive
association has been observed between exposure to the agent and cancer
but that other explanations for the observations could not be ruled
out. This category is also used when there is limited evidence of
cancer causing in humans and strong data on how the agent causes
cancer.
Currently, only two of the recently analyzed substances are
permitted for importation and use in Bermuda. The remaining three that
were reviewed as part of the research are already banned and their use
is prohibited.
In light of the recent IARC study, Bermuda will take the
following steps:
Effective immediately, all importers of glyphosate/Roundup will
be notified that the approval for all glyphosate products has been
suspended, pending the continuing assessment of the emerging
research. Our hope is to complete the assessment within six
months. However, orders placed for glyphosate will be honoured,
with proof that the order had been placed prior to today, May 11th,
2015. Whilst the restrictions will take effect immediately; there will
be a grace period of 14 days from today for current importers of
Roundup during which they can make application at the Department of
Environmental Protection to import small quantities of low
concentrations of Roundup.
No further applications for the importation of glyphosate will be
processed during this evaluation period.
I have asked the Department of Environmental Protection to
convene a meeting with stakeholders including:
the industry (farmers, landscapers, golf-courses,
merchants);
The Bermuda Health Department who are responsible for human
health;
The Department of Environmental Protection's regulatory
personnel;
The Department of Conservation Services;
The Department of Works and Engineering,who conduct roadside
spraying, and
The Department of Parks
I have also asked the Toxicologist at the Health Department to
collaborate with the Government Hydro-geologist and jointly conduct
research to determine if any of the break-down products of glyphosate
are present in the ground water and inshore waters. A report of
findings will be prepared.
Once this important research and assessment is completed, the
Government's final determination regarding Roundup (glyphosate) will
be made clear for the public.
It is important to note that a similar assessment will be
conducted for other pesticides of concern.
The Department of Works and Engineering can be contacted for the
proper disposal of pesticides should any members of the public have a
container of Roundup which they no longer wish to use.
For more information regarding alternative herbicides, the public
can contact the Plant Protection Laboratory at the Department of
Environmental Protection at 239-2321.They have a database that lists
all of the pesticides imported into Bermuda, as well as where they can
be purchased.
On a related front, I am also pleased to advise the public today
that I have invited my Cabinet colleagues to support the long overdue
development of regulations needed to properly regulate pesticides in
Bermuda. The Pesticides Safety Act 2009 was passed by the Legislature
but to date; the required Regulations have not been addressed. This
important feature of safety and proper enforcement will be introduced
to complete the work contemplated by the substantive Act.
I believe that the action we are taking today is prudent and in
the best interests of a safe environment for Bermuda. Like any area of
science, there are competing studies and a wealth of information on
both sides of the argument. Having considered the clear and cogent
advice of the Ministry's technical team, I am satisfied that this
action is warranted and we are committed to conducting an open and
thorough assessment.
Colombia to ban coca spraying herbicide glyphosate
Colombia, Peru and Bolivia are the world's biggest cocaine producers
Colombia
has announced it will stop using a controversial herbicide to destroy
illegal plantations of coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine.
The decision follows a warning by the World Health Organization (WHO) that glyphosate is "probably carcinogenic".
The product has been used in US-sponsored crop-spraying anti-narcotics programmes in South America.
President Juan Manuel Santos has said Colombia will need to find other mechanisms to combat coca production.
Anti-narcotics officials in Colombia will have until October to prepare an alternative plan.
'Health risk'
"I
am going to ask the government officials in the National Drug Council
at their next meeting to suspend glyphosate spraying of illicit
cultivations," Mr Santos announced.
"The recommendations and
studies reviewed by the Ministry of Health show clearly that yes, this
risk exists," he added, making reference to the WHO warning on cancer.
But Colombia will not "lower the guard" in its combat against drug trafficking, said Mr Santos.
Andean countries' farmers have been encouraged to stop growing coca and to switch to other crops
The government says Farc rebels protect coca fields and profit from the production of cocaine
The Colombian drug eradication programme began in 1994.
The authorities target mainly areas controlled by the country's largest rebel group, the Farc.
They say the Farc use the income from cocaine production to finance its armed struggle.
Other coca-producing countries in the region, including Ecuador and Peru, have also used the herbicide to destroy coca fields.
Farmers say aerial fumigation has destroyed entire fields of coffee and other legal produce.
E POR CÁ?
QUANDO É QUE OS LACAIOS DO AGRO-NEGÓCIO VÃO PROIBIR ESTE VENENO?
ATÉ DENTRO DO PARQUE NATURAL/REDE NATURA 2000 O USAM.
JÁ QUE PARECEM NÃO SABER O QUE É O PRÍNCIPIO DA PRECAUÇÃO,
NEM SEQUER O BOM SENSO,
TENHAM, PELO MENOS, VERGONHA.
mário
