SEEP Panel to release study of pesticide use in cotton

26 Aug '10

4 min read

1 kg a.i./ha in Australia (2007)
4.9 kg a.i./ha in Brazil (2006)
0.9 kg a.i./ha in India (2006)
0.6 kg a.i./ha in Turkey (2006)
1.2 kg a.i./ha in the USA (2006)

In Australia, the average amount of pesticides (kg a.i.) applied per hectare steadily declined after a peak reached in 1999. No clear trends in amounts used were distinguishable in India, Turkey and the USA, but this may be due to the limitations of the dataset. In Brazil, the use of pesticides increased during the years studied and by 2006 was 4-8 times higher than in the other countries. The reasons for increased use of pesticides in Brazil are explained in the Brazil country report. In all countries, insecticides, and among these organophosphates, were the major group of pesticides used, noting that herbicides were not analyzed.

Recommendations:

SEEP developed eight recommendations based on the results of the Study. The recommendations are summarized below and are presented in full in the Interpretive Summary.

i) SEEP recommends that WHO Hazard Class I pesticides be eliminated in countries where adequate provisions for their management are not in place.

ii) SEEP recommends that cotton-producing countries where the use of pesticides is higher than 1 kg of a.i. per ha should analyse and address the causes of such use.

iii) SEEP recommends that the use of active ingredients that account for the highest contribution to the environmental toxic load should be minimized to reduce the environmental hazards to aquatic organisms and bees.

iv) SEEP recommends that pesticides known to pose possible risk of harm to unborn or breast-fed children should be eliminated from the cotton production system.

v) SEEP recommends that governments, with the involvement of all concerned stakeholders in the cotton sector, make a strong effort to promote best management practices in plant protection and to reduce reliance on pesticides and subsequent risks to the environment and human health.

vi) SEEP recommends that governments consider both environmental and health risks while formulating clear policy statements relative to pesticide risk reduction.

vii) SEEP recommends that governments promote the collection of reliable crop-specific data related to pesticide use.

viii) SEEP recommends that follow-up risk assessment studies be conducted.

International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)

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