Ban on the use of dangerous carcinogenic pesticides to be implemented in phases

The Minister of Public Health, Wael Abu Faoor, announced yesterday during a joint press conference with his Agriculture counterpart, Akram Shehayeb that his ministry has detected some 45 pesticides including 9 carcinogenic types that contain a high level of toxicity which is harmful to pregnant women, and therefore could harm the fetus. He revealed that theses testing results originated from the technical committee which is currently made up of six agents for pesticide importers, and a fewer low-profile representatives of the health, agriculture and environment ministries. Abu Faoor underscored the need to reconsider the composition of the said committee, noting that pesticides dealers should not be part of it. He disclosed that an agreement was reached with minister Shehayeb to ban at once the entry to Lebanon of all pesticides registered outside Europe or the United States. “These toxins enter our bodies with the fruits and vegetables we consume, and then we wonder why the incidence rate of cancer in the country is increasing,” he explained. Abu Faoor warned that pesticides that were previously authorized but that were later proven to contain carcinogens will be removed from the markets during the course of one year (!?). For his part, Akram Shehayeb pointed out that “after the good pesticides enter Lebanon as agreed by the three concerned ministries, nobody or authority checks the farmers or suppliers for manipulating the usage and application of the said crop protection products.” To this effect, Shehayeb revealed, a joint committee has been formed to inspect the local agricultural production in order to ensure its compliance with internationally observed specifications. The same shall be applied on livestock production, poultry and meat as well, Shehayeb maintained. (As Safir, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, June 16, 2016)