Brazilian farmers criticize govt for delay in pesticide registrations

With over 1,000 products awaiting registration in Brazil, the list of preferential agrochemicals for registration has provoked controversy. 

 

Entities, such as the National Union of the Industry of Vegetable Defense Products (Sindiveg) and the Brazilian Association of Cotton Growers (Abrapa) have already voiced their position and questioned the criteria and asked for greater transparency.

 

One of the points mentioned is the presence of products, which are already on offer in the market, as well as agrochemicals that are already out of use in other places of the world. Another point questioned is that several applicants are only offices of registration and not industries installed in the country, which would demand a lot more time for processing the authorization of imports.

 

As per the current rule, the agrochemicals considered preferential by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply have analyzed before that the products are for more time in the waiting line. According to the Secretary of Agricultural Defense of the Ministry, Luis Eduardo Rangel, the selection is done taking into account the plagues that mean a greater threat to agriculture in a specific time.

 

“We challenge the company to present their alternatives. The low toxicity products get preference,” Rangel explained. According to him, in order to prepare for registration, algorithms are used. “It is a formula, it is more complex than simply saying that the product of the company ‘A’ has priority.…It is a lot of work.”

 

Rangel also recognized that the list of priorities is not liked by farmers and government officials. He attributed some of the discontent to a historic debt in the registration of the product, and said the list should be temporary and defended the creation of an electronic system, which would make the analysis more transparent and efficient.

 

Among the critics of the list is the president of the Brazilian Association of Cotton Growers, Arlindo Moura. He questioned, for instance, as to why agrochemicals aimed at combating Ramularia were not included. The plague has caused crop losses of up to 40%. “We have made requests for it to be included, but did not succeed.”

 

In a statement, Sindiveg affirmed that is necessary to have more predictability and transparency in the regulatory process without a necessity for priorities. Partners at the ministry for the analysis of registration did not hide the criticism for the lack of clear criteria regarding the inclusion of certain products to the detriment of others.