Draft guidelines on prevention of accumulation of obsolete pesticide stocks

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

   With the exception of a few newly industrialized countries, none of the developing countries have facilities for the safe and environmentally sound disposal of obsolete, unwanted and banned pesticides, and they cannot afford to ship them abroad for destruction in a dedicated hazardous waste incinerator. Countries with obsolete pesticides are stuck with them so more and more of them are requesting donors and aid agencies for financial and technical assistance in disposing of their obsolete stocks. Although agencies may be prepared to provide financial or technical assistance with the clean-up of present obsolete stocks, it is unlikely, and undesirable, that they will establish a regular system of assisting with the clean-up of obsolete stocks that accumulate in the future. The longer-term solution to disposal problems lies in preventing accumulation of obsolete pesticide stocks.
   Both UNCED's Agenda 21: Chapter 20 on environmentally sound management of hazardous waste, and the Basel Convention on the Control on Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal, put heavy emphasis on the importance of avoiding the generation of hazardous waste.
   To assist parties in preventing obsolete pesticide stockpiles, FAO is preparing guidelines on prevention of accumulation of obsolete pesticide stocks. These guidelines will supplement technical guidelines on the disposal of bulk quantities of obsolete pesticides, which are currently being prepared jointly by FAO, UNEP and WHO. Initially, the guidelines on prevention are being distributed as a project publication and have the title of provisional guidelines.
   The provisional guidelines start with a description of the magnitude of the problem followed by an overview of causes of accumulation. These fall roughly into six categories:

• regulatory and administrative measures;
• donations or purchases in excess of requirements;
• unsuitable products;
• inadequate stores and poor stock management;
• inadequate coordination by aid agencies;
• commercial interests of the pesticide industry and hidden factors.

   Recommendations containing both technical and policy elements address:

• the governments of developing countries;
• donor countries and aid agencies;
• the pesticide industry.

   The main recommendations are to:

• keep stocks as small as possible by:
  • reducing pesticide use, where possible;
  • avoiding overstocking;
  • evaluating distribution systems;
  • reducing surplus stocks and other not directly usable stocks.
• avoid getting inappropriate products;
• ensure proper storage and handling;
• anticipate the effects of banning products.

   In addition, donors and aid agencies are recommended to improve coordination with recipient countries, with other agencies and within agencies themselves.
   Other FAO activities relevant for prevention include tender guidelines and the development and introduction of the pesticide bank concept.