Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP) applauded the government of Malaysia for banning the use of the Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) chlorpyrifos and carbofuran in the agriculture sector effective May 1, 2023.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry recently ordered agriculture industry players to stop manufacturing, distributing, selling and using chlorpyrifos and carbofuran pesticides, citing potential human and environmental harms. Agriculture minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee revealed that there is a high amount of chlorpyrifos and carbofuran residues in vegetables and fruits, violating maximum residue levels, and underscored the need to ensure the quality and safety of the country’s agricultural produce.
“We welcome this regulatory action by the Malaysian government to ban chlorpyrifos and carbofuran in agriculture. Chlorpyrifos is linked to brain damage and is especially toxic to children. Exposure to even very low levels can cause losses in cognitive function, particularly in IQ and working memory, and lead to developmental disorders such as ADHD and autism. This ban is a decisive step that would protect innocent children from the devastating impacts of this pesticide”, said Sarojeni Rengam, PANAP executive director.
According to PAN’s Consolidated List of Banned Pesticides (as of May 2022), chlorpyrifos was already banned in 39 countries prior to Malaysia’s announcement. Meanwhile, carbofuran was already banned in 87 countries.
PANAP has worked for the inclusion of chlorpyrifos and carbofuran in international conventions on pesticide management. Currently, chlorpyrifos is being considered for a global ban as a Persistent Organic Pollutant under the Stockholm Convention. Meanwhile, carbofuran is one of the hazardous chemicals listed under the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent.
“Like chlorpyrifos, carbofuran is very toxic to humans and has caused a large number of poisonings among farmers around the world. Carbofuran is also responsible for large-scale poisoning of birds and small animals, is highly toxic to bees, and poses risks to earthworms and aquatic organisms,” said Rengam.
PANAP however urged the Malaysian Pesticide Board to consider also banning chlorpyrifos in household and public health use, uses that are currently exempted from the ban.
PANAP further urged the Malaysian government to consider agroecological alternatives to chlorpyrifos and carbofuran, instead of merely replacing them with other toxic chemicals. “Agroecology—or farming which replaces toxic chemicals with practices that are in harmony with nature—must be recognized, prioritized, and supported as ‘good agricultural practice’. Only agroecology can result in agricultural produce that is truly safe, not just for local consumers and export markets, but also for the farmers their children who have the right to a safe, clean and healthy environment”, Rengam concluded.
