Obsolete Pesticides--An Ongoing Dilemma
July 2, 1999
There are at least 100,000 tons of obsolete pesticide stockpiles in
countries around the globe. Approximately 20,000 tons of these
pesticides are located in Africa and the Middle East. While exact
quantities are unknown, large stockpiles also exist in Eastern Europe
and the Newly Independent States. Poland, for example, has 60,000
tons of obsolete pesticides stored in various locations throughout the
country. In addition, in many countries unquantified amounts of soil
and building materials have been heavily contaminated by pesticides
leaking from inadequate storage facilities.
Causes of the problem are many and include the banning of pesticide
products after import into the country, supply of banned products to
countries in the form of aid, oversupply or duplicate supply by different
aid agencies, poorly packaged or labeled products and inappropriate
formulations of pesticides for local use.
To date, UN-coordinated activities have resulted in the disposal of
approximately 3,000 tons of obsolete pesticides from 14 countries at a
cost of almost US$14 million. These efforts, however, are only the
beginning. Twelve of these countries still have stockpiles requiring
disposal. An additional 35 countries are waiting for clean-up operations
to begin, while another nine African countries have not yet finished
compiling information on obsolete pesticides within their borders.
Despite UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) efforts to raise
money for the project, contributions from governments, industry and
international agencies and institutions have been limited. To remove
one ton of obsolete pesticides in Africa costs between US$3,500 and
US$4,000. FAO estimates that disposing of all obsolete pesticides in
Africa would cost US$80 to 100 million.
The chemical industry has promised to pay at least a quarter of this or
approximately US$1 for every liter/kg of obsolete pesticide stocks
removed in Africa and the Near East, but, according to FAO, the
industry is "far from fulfilling its commitment." So far, only Shell
International has contributed, paying US$300,000 to clean up dieldrin
(a pesticide once produced by Shell and now banned in much of the
world) in Mauritania. This is slightly more than 1% of the money spent
on pesticide disposal in Africa since 1994.
Of the international agencies supporting development in the Third
World, only FAO has made any contribution; nothing has been
forthcoming from major international agencies such as the World Bank
or regional development banks. The majority of the funding has come
from development agencies in the U.S. and some European countries
such as Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the Basque
Country. No contributions towards cleanup efforts have come from the
United Kingdom, France or Japan -- countries which have donated or
exported pesticides to developing countries in the past.
Even when funding is available, clean up operations may not eliminate
threats to human health and the environment. In Senegal, Rhone
Poulenc (a French-based multinational agrochemical company) and the
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are funding
reformulation from liquid to powder of 86,000 liters of the insecticide
carbaryl The liquid carbaryl was originally supplied for aerial
application but was so corrosive that it damaged the aircraft. Carbaryl,
a potential human carcinogen, is a World Health Organization Class II
(moderately hazardous) pesticide, a type of pesticide that FAO
recommends not be used in developing countries.
Recent reports about the reformulation plant in Senegal highlighted
many health and safety issues regarding impacts on workers, local
residents and the surrounding environment. While USAID is currently
addressing these concerns, such problems serve to illustrate the need to
look beyond reformulation as a solution. Supporters argue that such a
project helps to develop local chemical management and production
capacity; however, rather than eliminating health and environmental
threats, reformulation puts a large volume of toxic pesticides back into
circulation.
Delegates from 16 African countries attending a recent workshop on
obsolete pesticides developed a list of recommendations based on
experiences in their countries. The recommendations included
formulating national strategies and policies that lead to integrated pest
management and including public interest groups in committees
planning for obsolete pesticide stockpile disposal.
For more information on obsolete pesticides, visit the UN FAO web
site at http://www.fao.org/news/199 9/990504-e.htm
Sources: Pesticides News 44, June 1999. "Pesticides Trust Activities in
the area of prevention, management and disposal of obsolete
pesticides," May 1999.
Contact: The Pesticides Trust, Eurolink Centre, 49 Effra Road, London
SW2 1BZ, United Kingdom; phone (44-171) 274 8895; fax (44-171)
274 9084; pesttrust@gn.apc.org; web site
http://www.gn.apc.org/pesticidestrust.
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