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The role of FAO in mechanisms for international cooperation

By A. Wodageneh, Project Coordinator

Global view of the pesticide situation

   The German Association of Chemical industries 1993-94 annual report, indicates that the value of world chemical pesticides sold was 37 billion deutsche marks, which at the current rate of exchange is about US$23 billion. The distribution of this value by region is summarized in Table 2 and Figure 1.

TABLE 2 - Summary of the value of pesticides imported by region (1993-94)

Region

Market share (%)

Value
(million US$)

Africa

3

672

Eastern Europe

3

672

Japan

11

2 464

Latin America

11

2 464

Asia

16

3 584

Western Europe

26

5 824

North America

30

6 720

Total

100

22 400


FIGURE 1 - View of the pesticide value imported by region (1993-94)

   Effective and efficient use of pesticides depends on the ability, awareness and expertise of the ultimate users. In Africa, where almost 90 percent of the population depend on farming and farming related activities for their livelihoods and where there is little or no information of the inherent implications of pesticides, a large proportion of imported chemical pesticides are wasted. Of the total figure of US$672 million-worth of pesticides imported into Africa in 1993-94, at least 40 percent, or US$269 million-worth, might have been wasted. Part of this may have been lost through inefficient application and part might have been destined to becoming obsolete. Such incidents aggravate the already grave issue of obsolete pesticides.
   Examples of the seriousness of the problem can be taken from on-site examinations and from various documented pictures taken where serious incidents of obsolete pesticide problems existed.
   Most of the affected countries that realize the urgency and seriousness of the problem are totally incapable of solving the problems by themselves and are constantly submitting requests for assistance. Invariably all countries need expertise, appropriate guidance and financial backing. The weekly Times magazine recently reported that sub-Saharan Africa, with a population of almost 500 million, produces less than Belgium, with a population of only 10 million, and exports less than Hong Kong, whose population is only 5 million. Africa needs help because it has the most serious problem from obsolete pesticides as a by-product of the pesticide treadmill and one of the causes of seriously curtailed development in food production resulting from basic ecological interferences.
   Some of the basic problems relating to pesticides have been summarized with suggested solutions in Annex 5. The provision of means and ways for comprehensive control and for achieving the objectives will only be possible if an international collaborative undertaking is made. Otherwise the problems will remain with no solution in sight.
   In seeking a solution and in attempting to develop mechanisms and approaches for international cooperation in prevention and disposal of obsolete pesticides, FAO is well set to play a role in providing criteria and a forum for collaboration and coordination. Such a forum should have a purpose, a common goal and a common front for a common problem.

Scope for cooperation and coordination

By H. P. van der Wulp, Consultant, FAO

Pesticide disposal issues

   Pesticide disposal issues are receiving increasing international attention and political support. They are no longer seen as negative efforts that consume development funds but rather as a necessary way of avoiding disasters that would otherwise have serious repercussions on the development process of affected countries. There is a growing consensus that disposal problems should be regarded as an international environmental issue requiring a concerted effort from the donor community.
   The increasing international attention is reflected in the number of important international policy documents that emphasize the urgency of the problem and the need for donors to act. Such policy documents include:

   These documents give shared responsibility to donors, aid agencies and recipient countries to clean up the present obsolete stocks and to avoid a buildup of new obsolete stocks.
   The problem of obsolete pesticide stocks has also been recognized by the pesticide industry. The International Group of National Associations of Agrochemical Manufacturers (GIFAP) published a booklet on the issue; Shell assisted with the clean-up of Dieldrin in the Niger and Madagascar; several companies cleaned up some of their own stores in Africa. There are also indications of a new development in the Philippines, where companies are apparently buying back stocks of endosulfan after the use of the product was banned.
   The importance of cooperation and coordination has been stressed. It has been demonstrated that the Madagascar and Uganda operation benefited from the experience gained in the Niger, leading to a cost reduction from about US$640 000 in the Niger to US$196 000 in Uganda.
   At several international fora, FAO has been asked to facilitate and coordinate activities aimed at the prevention and disposal of stocks of obsolete pesticides. In reply to these requests FAO initiated the current project and the meeting on prevention and disposal of obsolete and unwanted pesticide stocks in Africa and the Near East was one of its activities.
   A presentation was made of FAO's perception of its coordinating role in enhancing cooperation in prevention and disposal of stocks of obsolete pesticides. The presentation was a starting point for further discussion of FAO's role and the outcome of the discussion provided the following set of functions.

Reference centre

   FAO should act as a reference centre for information on:

Raise awareness among FAO Member States

   FAO should undertake activities to raise awareness among developing countries, donor countries and aid agencies of the problems related to obsolete pesticides, and promote policies and strengthen capabilities in prevention of the accumulation of obsolete pesticide stocks in developing countries.

Enhance cooperation and coordination

   FAO should organize annual meetings for donors and aid agencies involved in, or interested in, pesticide disposal. The objectives of such meetings will be to:

Initiation and/or implementation of disposal operations

   The initiation of disposal operations involves identifying stocks that requiring urgent repacking and/or disposal and bringing these to the attention of donors. Where necessary the following will be required:

   The implementation of disposal operations involving donors who do not want to organize such operations themselves requires the contracting of a disposal firm and the monitoring of the operation. A trust fund could be established for this purpose.

Interest

   There was general interest in the portfolio formula. It was indicated that portfolio projects should have an indicative budget and timetable, that the budget should be broken down as much as possible and that background and justification should be given. Furthermore, it was mentioned that it might be useful to describe the history of the problem and the origin of the pesticides. It would also help if reference where made to national and international obligations under treaties and conventions (e.g., if there is a risk for wetlands, refer to the Ramsar Convention) and to the environmental and health hazards, along with a cost estimate of damage likely to be caused if no action is taken. Proposals for disposal operations can, in most cases, best be presented to the missions of aid agencies in the countries concerned.
   GTZ, the Overseas Development Agency (ODA/NRI) and the WHO Regional Office in Alexandria, agreed to send information to FAO concerning their analytical facilities. They will also send their sampling instructions.
   The WHO Regional Office in Alexandria expressed its interest in organizing a regional workshop on the prevention of the accumulation of obsolete pesticide stocks.
   In reply to questions concerning the role of industry, it was explained that FAO is planning a separate meeting with GIFAP early in 1996. Participants asked to be informed about the outcome of the meeting with GIFAP and it is expected that this association of the chemical industries will produce something tangible.
   It was generally felt that both the pesticide industry and the NGO sector should be involved in the next meeting.
   To enhance the exchange of information it was suggested that participants actively involved in the preparation and implementation of disposal operations keep in regular contact with each other through E-mail or otherwise.
   FAO was requested to make a checklist of guidelines on disposal operations. This checklist could be updated or improved every time new lessons are learnt. Agencies interested in organizing disposal operations could then request the latest version of the checklist from FAO.

Triangulation

   A discussion was held on triangulation. Triangulation refers to arrangements in which a donor funds the repacking and movement of a stock of pesticides from a country that has an excess stock to a country in direct need of the product concerned. There is little experience with this type of arrangements and it was concluded that such arrangements have a potential to decrease excess stocks, but that there is a risk that they be used by one country to dump bad stocks on others. It was also feared that such measures would not encourage preventive measures. It was pointed out that triangulation arrangements may be difficult in cases of liability when it may not be clear who shuld be responsible if anything happens with pesticides during transport.
   However, the concept of triangulation could be interesting in some specific cases. Arrangement to minimize the risk of abuse could include:

 

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