BANGKOK, Sept 26 (TNA) – The Agriculture Ministry is ready to ban three controversial farm chemicals nationwide immediately if the National Hazardous Substances Committee (NHSC) resolves to ban them, said Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on.
The 29-member NHSC under the Ministry of Industry is authorized to issue the resolution on the proposed ban on paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos.
If the NHSC approves to ban these hazardous substances, he said the agriculture ministry will issue the ban on these chemicals, widely used by farmers across the country as it is his ministry’s major policy to promote safe agriculture practices among farmers and safe farm produce for consumers.
The NHSC met last week to consider reports and proposals for alternatives to the substances, submitted by the agriculture ministry. It resolved that the agriculture ministry would create understanding with related state agencies, importers, farmers and consumers on the problem and the impacts of these chemicals.
It gave 60-day timeframe for the agriculture ministry to make sure the alternative substances will not affect production costs and the quality of farm products.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Mananya Thaiset was assigned to work on the issue, Chalermchai said. She will wrap up all details and submit proposals to him before forwarding the NHSC. (TNA)
