REMARKS BY THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE,

HON. ROBERT M. PERSAUD ON THE PESTICIDES & TOXIC CHEMICALS CONTROL (AMENDMENT) 2007

 

 

 

Introduction

 

This Bill – the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control (Amendment) Bill - seeks to amend the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Act (No. 13 of 2000) so as to provide the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board with the responsibility for making arrangements and providing facilities for controlling the export of pesticides and toxic chemicals.

 

The amendment also makes provision for all pesticides and toxic chemicals exported to be certified by the Board and that an application for such a licence may be made to the Board and should be accompanied by the prescribed licence fee.

 

It is finally proposed in this Bill to give the Minister the power to make regulations for carrying into effect its purposes.

 

These amendments will provide the basic requirement for Guyana to accede to the Rotterdam Convention and enable implementation of the obligations of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade.

 

 

 

 

The amendments will allow the Designated National Authority – Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board - to request any person to give information where the Board believes on reasonable grounds that it is necessary to obtain the information to allow Guyana to comply with its obligations under the Convention.

Overview

Recognising the need for sharing information on pesticides and chemicals, in mid-1980s there was voluntary information exchange programs. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched its International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides in 1985, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) set up the London Guidelines for the Exchange of Information on Chemicals in International Trade in 1987. In 1989, the two organizations developed a prior informed consent (PIC) procedure.

Seeing the need for mandatory controls, the 1992 Rio Earth Summit adopted Chapter 19 of Agenda 21, which calls for the adoption of a legally binding instrument on the PIC procedure by the year 2000. In March 1998, the text of the Rotterdam Convention was finalised.

The Rotterdam Convention establishes a first line of defense by giving importing countries the tools and information they need to identify potential hazards and exclude chemicals they cannot manage safely. If a country agrees to import chemicals, the Convention promotes their safe use through labelling standards, technical assistance, and other forms of support. It also ensures that exporters comply with the requirements.

 

The Convention establishes the principle that export of a chemical covered by the Convention can only take place with the prior informed consent of the importing party.  The Convention establishes a "Prior Informed Consent procedure," a means for formally obtaining and disseminating the decisions of importing countries as to whether they wish to receive future shipments of specified chemicals and for ensuring compliance with these decisions by exporting countries.

The Convention also contains provisions for the exchange of information among Parties about potentially hazardous chemicals that may be exported and imported.

Entry into Force

The Convention officially came into force on the 24^th February 2004 after the ratifying deposition of the 50^th country on the 26^th November 2003.

What is Guyana’s Responsibilities?

As and importing country the national control authority - Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board – has to ensure that importers, exporters and users are informed on a regular basis of all notifications and responses received and proposed (by Guyana) under the convention.

The National Authority will also be required to apply uniformly all notifications and decisions to any exporting countries and to all domestic manufacturers of the notified chemicals.

 

 

Why does Guyana need this Convention?

The Convention:

(a)              Represents an important step towards ensuring the protection of citizens and the environment. It will save lives and protect the environment from the adverse effects of toxic pesticides and other chemicals;

 

(b)             Establishes a first line of defense against future tragedies by preventing unwanted imports of dangerous chemicals;

 

(c)              Extends to Guyana the ability to protect ourselves against the risks of toxic substances and raises global standards for protection of human health and the environment;

 

(d)             Enable Guyana and other participating countries to monitor and control the trade in very dangerous substances;

 

(e)              Provides Guyana with the power and authority to decide which chemicals we want to receive and to exclude those we cannot manage safely;

 

(f)               Ensure obligatory detailed information exchange between countries on hazardous chemicals and pesticides allowing informed decision-making on the national use of such chemicals; and

 

(g)              Addresses farmers, agro-processors and agricultural exporters concerns about the importation of severely hazardous and persistent pesticide formulation into Guyana;

 

(h)              Assure importers of agricultural produce that we do not use hazardous pesticides in Guyana. Open up new markets for our produce

 

Cabinet approved in December of the proposal to amend the Act and for Guyana’s accession to the Rotterdam Convention.

 

The final step is to get the passage of this Amendment by the National Assembly.