The development of mechanisms to control the distribution of pesticides in order to minimize the risks to human health by transportation, storage, application and residual effects of pesticides used in agriculture and preservation of wood.
Pesticides are usually a manufactured chemical used on agricultural land to kill pests such as insects and other unwanted organisms in order to increase agricultural production. Pesticides include herbicides (used to kill vegetation), fungicides (fungi), insecticides (insects), rodenticides (rodents) and nematicides (worms). However, their excessive use can lead to detrimental ecological and human health impacts such as food and drinking water poisoning which can induce or has been linked to illness, long-term disease and death. It is considered that pesticide licensing, handling and application need to be re-examined and controlled by properly enforced and monitored regulations.
This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.
In 1985, the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides was developed and adopted by all UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) members. The Code represents a wide consensus on pesticide management among governments, industry and non-governmental organizations. In 1989, the Code was amended to include a clause for Prior Informed Consent (PIC), enabling importing countries to decide whether they want to receive banned or severely restricted pesticides. FAO is preparing to review the implementation of the Code. FAO completed a successful project to help 13 Caribbean countries establish simple and effective national pesticide regulation and control schemes. A previous FAO project in the field covered 27 nations in Asia and the Pacific.
The Netherlands uses more pesticides than any other country in the world. A protest has been continuing since 1990 against the use of pesticides in potato farming. In 1993, after a legal challenge, an agreement was reached between protesters and the Dutch organization of potato produces to gradually reduce the use of pesticides and to phase out disease-sensitive potato varieties. The campaign also achieved a threefold increase in the market share of organic potatoes.
Pesticide licensing, handling and application need to be re-examined and controlled by properly enforced and monitored regulations. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should strengthen national public administrations and regulatory bodies in the control of pesticides and the transfer of technology for integrated pest management.
