In Switzerland it is forbidden to the substance since 2012, in the EU since 2003: atrazine, a herbicide used primarily for weed control in maize cultivation can cause in humans through prolonged or repeated exposure an allergic skin reaction and damage to organs, such as the Federal office for the environment (FOEN). For aquatic organisms it is “very toxic”.
it is not Allowed to export atrazine. In this rule the Federal Council wants to hold on to. In its order, the Department, the Department of Simonetta Sommaruga (SP), but now a proposal being drafted and will increase the hurdles for export. In the future, certain hazardous “pesticides should not be placed in the” how to date a Notification, but subject to authorisation; in addition to atrazine, the other four active ingredients, the use of which in this country is prohibited from: Diafenthiuron, Methidathion, and Paraquat and Profenofos. Also a rule, which is in the EU already in force will need to agree in the future, of that state, in the middle reach of the imports explicitly. Average reach per year, against 150 tons of pesticides from Switzerland and abroad.
industry warns of competitive disadvantage
Detec on Thursday, the consultation on the proposed changes to the regulations over the chemical reduction. The Plan provoked resistance. Science industries, the industry Association for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, feared a competitive disadvantage for the involved parties, the Swiss-based company like Syngenta or BASF. “Alone, without explicit consent of the trading partners, we categorically reject,” says the Deputy Director Marcel Sennhauser. The proposal of the Federal Council, goes beyond those obligations, the Rotterdam containing the Convention for the trade of certain chemicals and pesticides. He also can’t do in the Convention, provided for administrative processes between Switzerland and the beneficiary countries.
the proposal by The Detec is not for the industry Association, the more incomprehensible, as he improve the protection of people and the environment in the importing countries. Effective it would be, however, according to Sennhauser, if Switzerland would help other States in the Management of chemicals strengthened, as provided for in the Rotterdam Convention. “One of the biggest problems, especially in developing and emerging countries, the illegal trade of non-approved industrial chemicals and plant protection products,” said Sennhauser.
environmental groups call for ban on
criticism of the proposal also practice environmental associations. Philippe leg of Greenpeace welcomes the idea of a licensing requirement that keeps these but to no effect, as long as the lead Federal office for the environment (FOEN), as in the design of the Detec provided – no own risk assessment, but only a “request” could nod in agreement, if the consent of the importing state.
Effectively a ban on the export of in Germany prohibited pesticides according to the environmental organisations only. A corresponding initiative of national councillor Lisa Mazzone (Green) in Parliament is pending. Leg of Greenpeace cannot understand why substances are not allowed here, ever produced, and in Emerging and developing countries to be exported. “That’s where the danger is very great that the pesticides without protective equipment or not provision will be in accordance with the applied.” Mazzone, in turn, speaks of a “double standard” that would put Switzerland to an end. The Federal Council sees it differently. Such a prohibition, he writes in his response to Mazzones advance, be proportionate.
(editing Tamedia)
Created: 15.03.2019, 18:13 PM
