Nepal

by Bhakta R. Palikhe

PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT IN NEPAL: In view of Code of Conduct

Introduction

Nepal is predominantly an agricultural country. The economic scenario of Nepal is dominated primarily by the agriculture sector. In Nepal the diverse agro-climatic conditions necessitate different approaches to cultivation and crop protection; crop losses during post-harvest phase are quite high.

Nepal passed the first Pesticide Act in 1991, which is considerably later than other South Asian countries (SAC). The purpose of legislation on the formulation, importation and use of pesticides is to enable the society to obtain the benefits from their use with minimal adverse effects to humans and other non-target organisms.

The Pesticide Rules were approved in January 1993. The Act and the Rules were gathered to become operative on 16 July 1994. The Act regulates the import, manufacture, sales, distribution and use of pesticides within the country with a view to prevent risks of human beings, animals and foe matters connected herewith. The Act established a Pesticide Registration and Management Division. It also established a Pesticide Committee which composed of members from various ministries, the Pesticide Association of Nepal, scientists and consumer groups for the purpose of discussing pesticide related issues and define its functions, duties and powers.

The Committee is mandated to:

• Advise HMG/N in the formulation of national policy regarding pesticides.

• Maintain co-ordination between private and government sectors in the production and distribution of pesticides.

• Encourage private sector investment in the pesticide industry.

• Regularize or control the quality of pesticides produced by the industry operated under private or government sectors and

• Set standards for pesticide quality.

The system for regulation, control and management was established by a series of import certificates (for 5 years with provisional or conditional) and reseller licenses (for 2 years) issued by the registration agency. Registration is required for each formulation and brand of pesticides.

The Act also manages the Pesticide Inspectors (PIs) who represent the enforcement arm of the government in 75 districts to monitor pesticide sales, storage, quality, use and disposal. The duties of PIs will be to inspect the premises of each reseller, wholesaler, importers and formulators. Also, part of their duties is to advise the farmers on safe use practices of pesticides.

A. Pest and pesticide management

The Plant Protection Directorate (PPD) of Department of Agriculture (DOA) undertakes general pest control methods and new programs on pest control management such as IPM. The major emphasis at present is on IPM approaches in major cereals, cash crops and vegetables. The Tenth Five-year Plan officially recognized the need for IPM, which has been declared as a national pest control strategy. The Agricultural Perspective Plan (1997-2017) has also highlighted on the need for IPM and has emphasized in the rapid dissemination of its techniques among the farmers as a primary plant protection measure. In Nepal, APP has duly recognized IPM as one of the priority agenda for sustainable agriculture. There is also to fulfill the commitments made in Earth Summit held in Rio, Brazil in 1991. Realizing its potentiality, PPD/DOA have already given priority to create public awareness and started implementing effective IPM programs through IPM Farmer Field Schools (FFS) for proper, sound and judicious management of pesticides and control of hazardous chemical pesticides.

The potentiality of IPM practices lie in its sustainability in terms of social, economical and ecological attributes. The program is being gradually replicated in other crops such as vegetables, fruits and potato. However there is a need to develop a comprehensive policy and program whereby both GOs and NGOs can join hands with farmers to expand the program.

The Government of the Kingdom of Norway in 2003 had donated a grant to HMG/NEPAL to provide "Support to the National Integrated Pest Management (IPM)" Program in Nepal in co-operation with FAO technical assistance from December 2003 to December 2007 realize the following objective.

Objective

• To contribute to sustainable broad-based poverty alleviation and food security while contributing to environmental protection.

In practice, several other models exit and have been advocated; the main ones being Integrated Crop Management (ICP) which emphasize judicious as opposed to indiscriminate use of pesticides, Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA), and Organic Agriculture (OA). The another pesticide management is that if products contravene any provision of law under which they are registered, the marketing company is subject to penalties, including the cancellation of registration.

Integrating HIV/AIDS in FFS approach

Care-Nepal is conceptualizing the implementation of an intra-sector model within the FFS program. In this regard, Care-Nepal has prepared a concept note on "Integrating HIV/AIDS in FFS. What has been suggested is that there can only be poverty reduction if health issues are seriously considered amongst the community. Therefore, integrating HIV/AIDS in FFS could be another option to improving the livelihood and ensure the safe health of individual household as well as to contribute to the minimization of national poverty.

Constraints to IPM: Misuse/overuse of pesticides

• Strengthen NGO/GO collaboration*

• Gender sensitivity

• Dealers take up insensitive and aggressive marketing strategies to sell their products

• Sales promotion activities of pesticides

• False advertisement/control of advertisements. No misleading statements or over claims on safety or efficacy of a product or unlawful to advertise false, deceptive information and not to claim that any pesticide is safe, non-poisonous, non-injurious or harmless

• The 3R's problem:

  - Resistance

  - Release secondary pests outbreaks

  - Resurgence (rising again) primary pests

• Illegal trans-boundary movement

• Unaware of PIC, POPs and PTS chemicals

Solution to the problem

• Farmers resort to easily available alternatives

• The utmost need is farmers education and technological development to adopt IPM

• Capacity building and public awareness on issues relating to pesticide use

• Promotion of IPM and IVM

• Truth in advertising

• Stronger enforcement

B. Testing, quality control and effects in the field

Once registered and permitted for formulation and sale, the product is subjected to an important regulatory requirement: monitoring for quality. Pesticide Inspectors are empowered and responsible for enquiry, examination, drawing of samples, detention and seizure of suspected stocks, and launching of prosecutions against offenders. Dealers distribute pesticides in small prepackaged and labeled containers to end users throughout the country. Random samples of all these products are collected from the dealers shop. Action is taken against the dealers if test reports show the product to be defective. If the product does not conform to approved specifications, the following actions are taken:

• The imported product is not released for marketing and sale.

• If the samples collected from the dealer's shop show the product to be defective, suppliers are advised to withdraw from the market.

C. Health and environment information

Systematic studies are lacking to monitor the effects of pesticides on human health and the environment. So there are serious data gaps observed due to lack of capability and capacity in monitoring data relating to health, environmental contamination and specific incidents. However, there is little information on environmental contamination, poisoning cases and the presence of several pesticides in crop and vegetables.

Though, environmental levels of pesticides were not reported but a survey conducted in 1995 in Nepal revealed that chemical pesticides such as aldrin were used for fishing baits in rivers, streams and ponds. These chemicals kill the fish, which after surfacing are collected by fisherman. Fisherman even place pesticides (Endosulfan) into rivers, and streams in order to catch fish in an easy way. A study on pesticide pollution in Nepal revealed that 52 percent of the respondents had no knowledge of the environmental effects of chemical pesticides.

Although the developed countries consume more pesticides, the pesticide poisoning cases are observed more in developing countries. Excessive use of pesticides, lack of education and the discomfort of using protective clothing increase poisoning risks in agricultural workers, but the country has no regular system of data collection on poisoning cases, and there is no regular program for monitoring the health of the workers involved in handling the pesticides. In Nepal, the pesticide residue limits are set by the food standardization committee (FSC).

In a recent study carried out by Plant Protection Directorate eighteen samples of vegetables collected in 2004 and these samples (7 samples of potato, 6 samples of brinjal, and 5 samples of tomato) were analyzed at the private accredited laboratory. The residue level in potato was recorded from 0.45 to 4.8 ppm (Mancozeb), N.D (Endosulfan), 0.017 ppm (Methyl Parathion). Likewise, the residue level in tomato was found from 1.48 to 8.6 ppm (Mancozeb), N.D to 0.042 ppm (Cypermethrin) and N.D (Dimethoate). Samples of brinjal were not found to be contaminated with pesticide residue (Deltamethrin, Fenvalerate, Cypermethrin, Chlorpyrifos and Methyl Parathion).

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control also collected 106 samples of different food commodities in 2001/2002 and the samples were analyzed for the estimation of Organochlorine (DDT and BHC) and Organo-phosphorous (Parathion, Methyl-parathion and Malathion) pesticides. The results revealed that samples of different food commodities were not found to be contaminated with pesticide residue. There is a system to monitor pesticide residues and the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control is responsible for monitoring food safety in Nepal.

Pesticide poisoning is a major public health problem in the developing countries. Although some hospital based data are available but there are no large scale or nation wide study done on the scale of poisoning problem in Nepal. For proper evaluation of poisoning pattern, an extensive study has to be conducted in different specialty care, regional, zonal, district hospitals as well as primary care center, health post and sub-health posts so that intervention programs like poison prevention, mental health awareness and restriction on the sale and use of toxic pesticides can be implemented.

In Nepal, even though there are general and specialized hospitals, majority of cases are handled in peripheral levels of health care units such as health Post and District Hospital. Treatment of poisoning cases is based on individual case. However, there are no standard protocols for handling such cases immediately after arriving in the emergency ward. Therefore a concrete plan and program to safe guard the health of the public has become mandatory in the area of toxicology. Establishment of Nepal Poison Information Center (NPIC) is a positive step towards this direction. It has been providing tailor made management information to health care professional and preventive information to general public.

During 2002, the Nepal Drug and Information Center answered 3 012 incoming calls that consisted of 2 083 human exposures, 18 animal exposures 876 non exposure poison or drug information and 35 medical information.

80 percent (1 658) and 20 percent (412) calls were from hospitals and general public respectively. 4.27 percent (89) deaths among 2 083 calls and aluminium phosphide followed by organophophates were the most commonly involved in those deaths. Over 65 percent (1 368), 31 percent (660) and 0.72 percent (15) calls were concerning suicidal, accidental and occupational patients, respectively. Over 54 percent (1 141) cases involved agricultural agents followed by drugs (23 percent), household agents (15 percent), plants (4 percent), and bites/sting (2 percent). Among the agricultural agents, insecticide lead the cases, 61 percent (694) followed by rodenticide, 27 percent (312) (Source: The Nepal Drug and Poison Information Centre-2002 Sixth Annual Report.).

D. Trends in pesticide use and trade

Most pesticides used in Nepal are imported from India, some from China and other countries on the basis of a registration. Distribution of pesticide in Nepal is conducted only in the form of finished products. Nepal is included under the category of LDC which has limited use of pesticide per capita and/or ha. So, in comparison to other countries in the Asia Pacific Region, the use of chemical pesticides in Nepal is one of the lowest. Pesticide use, however, is much more intensive in areas that have greater access to markets. The use is higher in areas with intensive commercial farming of vegetables, fruits, tea, rice and cotton. Under the present scenario, as reported by many, judicious and prudent use of pesticide by the Nepalese farmers is largely disregarded. All types of pesticides are not only repeatedly but also carelessly used.

There are approximately 38 importers. Some 3 450 resellers received training on safe use of pesticides and storage management of which 2 543 were licensed. About 319 types of pesticides by trade name (Insecticides-213, Fungicides-71, Herbicides-23, Rodenticides-8, Acaricides-2 and others-2) have been registered for use under Pesticides Act and Rules. Highly persistent types (POP pesticides), Phosphamidon and Organo-mercury fungicides are banned in Nepal (PR and MD 2004 Annual Report).

According to the latest estimate the annual imports of pesticides is about 177 tons (a.i.) and current annual use is more than 142 tons (a.i.) with 48.3 percent as insecticides, 46.2 percent fungicide, 4.4 percent Herbicide, 1.1 percent others. The gross sales and valued as $2.1 million per year (PR and MD, 2004 - Annual Report).

As there is an open and porous border with India, there is a considerable, but unknown quantity of trade between farmers close to the border. Illicit/illegal import, smuggled pesticides and trans-boundary issues are of serious concern to Nepal which needs to be addressed in multilateral approach with neighboring industrialized countries in prevention of potential infiltration of banned/unregistered pesticides.

E. Selected standards

Government policies and programs on pesticide

There is a regulatory infrastructure established for the management of pesticides in Nepal. It covers all handling and use aspects of pesticides. The importers wishing to market and sell pesticides must submit an application dealing with the use of pesticides, toxicity and the correct use of pesticides in agriculture and health sector from the health point of view. No pesticide may be imported into the country without the appropriate certificate of importation issued by Registration Authority.

Large persistent chemical pesticides have been banned for agriculture and public health from 9^th April, 2001 and also hazardous pesticides have been phased out from the use since 9^th April, 2001. At present, prohibition on the use of Quinalphos, Ethion, Monocrotophos and Phorate in the tea field is being campaigned and implemented from 9^th, May, 2005 because these pesticides are highly toxic. The pesticides to be imported, distributed, traded and used should be more friendly and less hazardous to health and environment More emphasis has been given to use organic pesticides as an alternative of chemical pesticides to control crop pests. Development and use of some microbial and botanical pesticides which are eco-friendly has opened a new field of bio-pesticides. The best know form of bio-pesticide is the Bacillus thuringensis (Bt). Eco-friendly neem formulations are also being used currently. IPM has been widely accepted as the alternative to pesticide application. The significant being phasing out of an environmental unfriendly pesticides are rigorous approval of the newer and more safer and specific molecules. Government has already conducted or is regularly lunching training programs to educate the concerned personnel.

In Nepal, as in most of the other developing countries in the region, the capabilities, expertise and resources to fully implement the regulation are limited. Further, there is a need to strengthen the scientific and technical base for health and environmental risk assessment.

HMG/N is also reviewing to phase out PIC listed two pesticides: Methyl parathion and Monocrotophos. The Government would review, revise and as needed, develop legislation and supporting regulations which promote chemical safety in the home, the workplace and other areas of the environment as well as in relation to food and also develop measures to prevent illegal Tran boundary movement of chemicals.

Pesticide stockpiles

The safe disposal of unwanted time-expired and/or damaged pesticides and empty containers is a problem in Nepal as the facilities and the technical know how to accomplish disposal are limited. The problem of obsolete pesticide remains serious and urgent. About 75 tons of obsolete pesticides are stored in warehouses of different locations.

HMG/Nepal is executing a project entitled Enabling activities to facilitate early action on the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Pops). The objective of the project is to assist HMG/N to meet its obligations of the Stockholm Convention and endorse its National Implementation Plan (NIP) on Pops. And also to strengthen national capacity and enhance knowledge and understanding amongst decision makers, managers, NGOs and the public at large on Pops to develop and formulate a NIP.

Present priorities

· Alternate chemicals/alternative technologies

Awareness of the alternate chemicals and the need to replace the environmentally unfriendly chemicals is being realized. The financial constraints, lack of R and D infrastructures don't permit development and use of alternate chemicals. Priority should be given by the international agencies to develop alternate chemicals/alternative technologies through research and other means of support where necessary.

· Monitoring capacity

It is necessary to address both technical and administrative aspects for monitoring capacity. Two aspects are inter-related and they should be taken individually so that the strengths and weaknesses in the region and local levels could be easily understood.

· Environment-International Agreements

Nepal needs to ratify/sign the Environment-International Agreements and conventions.

· Identification of needs at local level

Establishment of a national focal point to co-ordinate all the relevant agencies or an authority responsible for the pesticides related issues. There should be a multi-disciplinary approach.

· Stockpile of obsolete pesticides

Special attention is drawn to the stockpile of obsolete chemicals in Nepal and necessary actions have to be adopted in preventing potential threats to the environment and safe disposal.

· Filling of Pesticide Exposure Records (PERs)

Filling of PERs needs improvement. More training and interaction is needed with medical and paramedical staffs responsible for reporting poisoning.

Data gaps:

• Limited data on environmental levels are available.

• No apparently monitoring system due to non-availability of infrastructures and relevant technical manpower.

• No organized national surveys repeatedly conducted.

• A valid comparison of data cannot be made.

Conclusion and recommendations

One of the primary objectives for managing and controlling pesticides is to ensure that the product is effective for the control of the target pest while causing little or no deleterious effect to man, non-target organisms and the environment as a whole. Like the other regions, this region has been using many environment unfriendly chemicals and processes, which has led to the pesticide problem. Government policies still favor pesticides and high subsidies exist, while newer IPM products are taxed at high rates. The government should foster IPM by removing subsidies on the least desirable pesticides while removing taxes from IPM products. These economic incentives would go a long way in changing the practices of farmers. This recommendation is in line with recent changes in government policy where IPM methods are to be preferred over pesticide usage. Pesticides should only be supplied that meet international standards of quality and are packaged and labeled as appropriate in the line of code of conduct that is adequate for farmers to ensure safe and effective use Alternatives should be safe and effective and new technologies should be provided at affordable cost. People of LDC countries need to encourage and promote the development of indigenous technology and traditional method of the plant diseases, insect pest control and vector borne diseases control at national and regional level. Keeping in view the problem of residue of pesticides in different components including food items, the Government should educate and advocate an IPM and the methods don't go for demonstration only but validation on large scale. Effective registration, licensing, quality control, food residue analysis and other enforcement measures including monitoring and testing will be needed. In Nepal it is high time to develop Chemical Safety Programmers-risk management strategies and know-how for coping with chemical accidents and set up of a Central Authority for chemical safety management of toxic chemicals, and Government needs to promote awareness of responsibilities under the Code of Conduct on Pesticides and relevant FAO Guidelines and should implement international agreements regulating trade and use hazardous chemicals and upgrade facilities for chemical analysis.

QUESTIONNAIRE SUMMARY

Nepal

Selected Country Statistics:

GDP = Gross Domestic Product; GNI = Gross National Income; Hunger = Population below minimum energy requirement; FAOSTAT = latest data entry between 1998 and 2002

Institutional Profile

Industry Associations:

Non-Governmental Associations: Soc. of Environment Journalist, Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalist

Questionnaire responses: Yes = Yes; - = No;? = don't know; (blank) = no answer