"glyphosate"

The Public Health Ministry is pushing for a complete ban on three hazardous pesticides, after reports showed that toxic residue was found in newborns and more than 40,000 people have been sickened in the past five years.

A member of the National Hazardous Substances Committee announced on Facebook on Wednesday (November 27) that she had resigned from the panel to express her strong disagreement with its decision earlier that day to postpone a planned ban on two agrichemicals seen as dangerous to public health.

The US has urged Thailand to take scientific evidence into account and weigh the consequences of a ban on the use of glyphosate, a weed-control chemical.

A GROUP of academics is preparing to fight for a total ban in two years on three agrochemicals deemed a threat to public health.

PARAQUAT, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are still allowed for use in Thailand for at least another two years, after the Hazardous Substance Committee yesterday reaffirmed its previous decision not to ban the three controversial agrochemicals.

The Hazardous Substance Committee may fail to reach a decision on whether to ban paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos, said Apichin Jotikashira, Industry Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary.

FARMER GROUPS expressed their concern that agrochemical control measures proposed in the new ministerial regulation will turn them into criminals, as they will be forbidden from spraying herbicides on their farms without proper training.

THE CONTAMINATION with agrichemicals in Nong Bua Lamphu remains severe according to the latest analysis by Naresuan University researchers, which found very high concentration of four prominent herbicides in soil, water, vegetables, fish and even in local tap water samples.

Transparency needed for ban on farm chemicals

PROTESTERS YESTERDAY welcomed an assurance by the government that it would reconsider banning farm chemicals paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos.

A MASS PROTEST at Government House is being organised to protest a decision by the government’s Hazardous Substance Committee on Wednesday not to ban reportedly dangerous agricultural chemicals paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos in Thailand.

Three worrying farm chemicals, including Paraquat, will remain in use in Thailand as the Hazardous Substance Committee voted Wednesday to restrict their use, but not ban them.