BANGKOK, Oct 22 (TNA) – The National Hazardous Substances
Committee (NHSC) has decided to ban the use of three toxic farm chemicals —
paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos – while opponents and farmer groups
threaten to file a court petition against the move.
After a long battle between farmers groups for and against
removing the substances from the market, the NHSC members voted on Tuesday to
ban the chemicals.
Hundreds of farmers gathered outside the meeting room at the
Ministry of Industry where the voting took place. When the vote results were announced, a
representative of farmers groups Anchulee Lakamnuaypon said they groups would
file a petition with the Administrative Court on October 28 calling for a
temporary injunction.
The groups would also file lawsuits against individuals who,
they said, misinformed the public about the chemicals.
Anchulee said they planned to appeal to Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha to set up a new panel to restudy and review reports on the
chemicals.
The NHSC had previously agreed only to restrict use of the
chemicals, citing the lack of alternatives and impacts on farmers despite
widespread calls for a total ban. Its
decision is a victory for many health and organic farming groups who have long
demanded outright bans on the popular farm chemicals.
According agriculture officials, paraquat, glyphosate and
chlorpyrifos will be classified as Type 4, meaning possession, distribution,
importing and production of these chemicals are prohibited.(TNA)
