Brazil prosecution requests urgency on emamectin benzoate ‏judgment

The Regional Prosecution Office of the 1st Region in Brazil requested an urgency in the judgment that defines the release of the use of emamectin benzoate in the state of Mato Grosso. The use of this agchem has been authorized in the first instance by the Federal Court of the 1st Region (TRF1), who also rejected an appeal from the prosecution in July 2014. As the prosecution had its appeal denied, a maximum urgency is now requested for the judgment in the second instance. The decision will then be made by the 6th Chamber of the Federal Court in Brasilia.

 

According to the prosecution, there are not updated, conclusive studies on the efficiency of the product in the Brazilian agricultural conditions. Besides, it alerts that the high neurotoxicity of the substance has already been proven through testing in animals and certified by government agencies such as Anvisa, Ibama, and CTA.

 

One of the main arguments used by the Union to ask for the release of the agrochemical is to declare state of emergency due to the imminent risk of the proliferation of Helicoverpa armigera (corn earworm) over the crops. The prosecution said, however, the imports release on an emergency status, cannot be authorized for the emamectin benzoate, since the Law 12,873 / 2013 which regulates the matter, prohibits the use of chemicals that can cause serious damage to the environment.

 

The forecast is that 63 tons of emamectin benzoate would be released for the state of Mato Grosso in the case that the decision is not changed. The use of emamectin benzoate is not new in the country. Other states already see emamectin benzoate as a solution for corn earworm, as the case of the states of Goiás, Paraná, Bahia, and Alagoas.