The workshop participants reflected on priorities, strategy
plan and recommendations in three working groups that were arranged according
to:
pesticide
exporting countries: China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea and
Singapore;
intensive pesticide users:
Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam; and
moderate pesticide users:
Bangladesh, Cambodia, DPR Korea, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Nepal.
Workshop findings and conclusion
Results from the group work were summarized by the workshop
and working group rapporteurs in the following statement, which was presented to
the plenum and edited paragraph by paragraph:
"From 26 to 28 July 2005, representatives from Bangladesh,
Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal,
Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and
Viet Nam met in Bangkok to deliberate the implementation of the revised
International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides. In this
task, they were assisted by experts from FAO, UNEP and WHO, as well as
representatives from CropLife and PANAP.
In preparation for the workshop, all country participants
prepared reports on the situation of Code of Conduct implementation and answered
a short questionnaire. The results showed that all countries in the Asia region
are genuinely committed to implementing the Code and have made significant
progress in promoting the judicious and responsible use of pesticides in support
of sustainable agricultural development and improved public health. It was noted
that all countries have passed national legislation to regulate the use of
pesticides and have established institutions to register the products used in
the respective countries. Products that are highly hazardous to the user,
consumer or the environment have been banned or severely restricted. All
countries support the integrated pest management approach as a means to promote
less hazardous and more environmentally friendly alternatives.
The country reports also noted important information gaps that
limit a comprehensive assessment of the effects of pesticides on the economies,
societies and natural resources. While recognizing that there are adverse
effects of pesticides on health and the environment, few data are collected to
monitor effects on human health and the environment. This information gap limits
the ability of the country governments to assess the effectiveness of their
policies and to propose improvements. For these policies to benefit country
development, a broader based implementation of pest and pesticide management is
needed, particularly through education efforts for the public and particularly
farmers.
The Code of Conduct was revised in 2002 and the changes have
been adopted by all FAO member countries as well as some NGOs and the pesticide
industry associations. The revised Code contains new provisions on monitoring
and observance and invites all stakeholders to monitor and report on
implementation of the Code. Governments, industry and civil society groups and
interested parties are called upon to collect respective information and report
to FAO.
The workshop delegates carefully reviewed the draft guidelines
on monitoring and observance of the revised version of the Code. Suggestions
were made to further improve the questionnaire and its understanding. In order
to strengthen the implementation of the Code of Conduct, the country delegates
passed on the following findings:
- The revised Code of Conduct is recognized as a useful document for all countries
to review its pest and pesticide management policies for the purpose of protecting
human health, the environment and to ensure a sustainable development.
- Using the proposed guidelines for monitoring Code implementation can be
an effective instrument to assess national pesticide management capabilities
and capacities and the effectiveness of present regulatory mechanisms. All
governments are therefore encouraged to use the guidelines to strengthen their
self-monitoring mechanisms to improve decision-making and environmental performance.
- The delegates recognized that the monitoring of the Code of Conduct cannot
be adequately handled by a single organisation. Under the leadership of the
designated authority, countries are therefore encouraged to use their inter-sectoral
cooperation mechanisms to set-up a broad-based collection and review of country
data, also involving industry and civil society organisations where appropriate.
This data collection should cover all aspects of pesticides use including
public health. This will encourage cooperation and reflect the actual situation
in the country more accurately, and thus become more useful for decision-makers
in agriculture, environment and health.
- Results from the regular monitoring of the implementation of the Code should
be submitted to the appropriate policy makers in the country for information,
and to FAO for compilation and summary. In addition, the option for ad
hoc reporting should be made widely known and encouraged.
- Particular attention should be given to the monitoring of effects of pesticides
on human health and livestock, especially in poorer rural communities, and
on important ecological functions such as natural pest suppression, pollination
and nutrient recycling that support sustainable agricultural production.
- More information is needed on pesticide use as it relates to residues in
food, the environment, and effects on wildlife, in order to enable the authorities
to minimize risks.
- Participants identified the need for improving knowledge on risk assessment
and risk analysis in order to strengthen risk evaluation of pesticides as
part of the registration process.
- Existing pest management policies should be linked with specific pesticide
use targets in order to achieve a comprehensive pest and pesticide management
strategy with mutually synergistic benefits. This could be achieved through
a systematic promotion of good agricultural practices (GAP), including IPM,
organic farming, biocontrol agents, biopesticides, appropriate application
equipment and others in the context of a broad education of the public, especially
the farmers.
- Generally, the setting of more specific targets in all areas of the Code
would facilitate the measurement of the level of compliance.
- While recognising huge differences between the individual countries, regional
similarities exist. Exporting countries should increasingly take on their
special responsibilities under the Code; all countries should comply with
the concerned international conventions and ensure product quality meeting
international standards (e.g. FAO/WHO specifications, ISO standards, etc.);
and emerging economies should request assistance to attain a high regional
level of achievement of Code compliance.
- More information exchange should be encouraged between regulatory authorities
of the countries in the region, particularly neighbouring countries. A harmonized
system of classification and standards would strengthen the information exchange
and communication.
- All countries should have inventories on stocks of obsolete pesticides.
Access to facilities for safe disposal of obsolete and left-over pesticides,
and used containers are needed."
