AgroPages-Thailand plans to ban paraquat, chlorpyrifos and restrict glyphosate-Agricultural news

The Thailand Department of Agriculture issued Implementation Guideline for reviewing three pesticides: glyphosate, paraquat and chlorpyrifos.

The ban was initiated by the Health Ministry which earlier this year formed a joint committee on the control of farm chemical use. The Agriculture Ministry also sits on the committee, together with the Industry and the National Resources and the Environment ministries.

Under the time frame, the Agriculture Ministry, through the Department of Agriculture, will suspend registration of import licence renewal for paraquat and chlorpyrifos. The licences run out next month.

But, Suwit Chaikiattiyos, director-general of the Department of Agriculture, earlier this week said the time frame of the proposed ban is unrealistic, as the authorities still "lack enough information on the health impacts".

Mr Suwit's latest stance makes it unclear if the department will still go ahead with the registration. If that is the case, the ban may not be possible by the proposed time frame.

According to 2016 figures, Thailand imported 31.5 million kilogrammes of paraquat, and 2.1 million kg of chlorpyrifos, along with 61.8 million kg of glyphosate.

Facts and figures