Proceedings of the Asia regional workshop on the

● Legislation makes it mandatory for <strong>the</strong> cancellation <strong>of</strong> pesticides <strong>of</strong> inferior quality;
● The registrant is required to submit 5-batches analysis report and pr<strong>of</strong>iles <strong>of</strong> impurities
with sample <strong>of</strong> chromatograms (for technical material only) at re-registration;
● Intensifying investigation and collect more market samples for monitoring purposes;
● Controlling <strong>the</strong> source <strong>of</strong> technical active ingredient.
Laboratories facilities for monitoring pesticide quality
A formulation laboratory in <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Agriculture has been set up since some thirty
years ago to check or monitor pesticide quality submitted for registration. The laboratory is capable
<strong>of</strong> analysing <strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> active ingredients registered in Malaysia.
Effort made to monitor pesticide use in <strong>the</strong> field
Little collaboration exists between <strong>the</strong> government and <strong>the</strong> industry to monitor pesticide use
in <strong>the</strong> field. As far as Malaysia is concerned, <strong>the</strong>re have been no adjustments to <strong>the</strong> interval period
from last spray harvest.
C. Health and environmental information
Effort made to monitor <strong>the</strong> effects <strong>of</strong> pesticides on human health and environment
Few studies to monitor <strong>the</strong> effects <strong>of</strong> pesticides on human health have been undertaken by
universities in <strong>the</strong> country. The Ministry <strong>of</strong> Health, through <strong>the</strong> Food Act 1983 under <strong>the</strong> Food
Regulations 1985 stipulates <strong>the</strong> maximum residue limits <strong>of</strong> food, while <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong>
Environment monitors <strong>the</strong> effects <strong>of</strong> pesticides in <strong>the</strong> environment. Some local universities and
research institution are also conducting studies on <strong>the</strong> effects <strong>of</strong> pesticides in <strong>the</strong> environment.
Occupational poisoning cases among farmers and industrial workers
There are in fact some surveys on occupational poisoning cases among farmers and industrial
workers carried out by <strong>the</strong> universities, but <strong>the</strong>re is no cause for alarm because <strong>the</strong>re is legislation to
minimize <strong>the</strong> occurrence <strong>of</strong> poisoning at work. The main Act that control worker safety and health is
<strong>the</strong> Occupational Safety and Health Act 1974 and <strong>the</strong> rules and regulations prescribed under <strong>the</strong> Act
<strong>the</strong>reafter, and to a lesser extent, <strong>the</strong> Pesticides (Highly Toxic Pesticides) Regulation, 1996 which
control only <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> certain highly toxic pesticides such as methamidophos and monocrotophos
only.
In 2004, Ministry <strong>of</strong> Health only recorded 53 occupational poisoning cases while compared
to 114 cases reported in 2003.
Under <strong>the</strong> pesticide extension programme undertaken by DOA, farmers are trained and
educated on <strong>the</strong> safe use <strong>of</strong> pesticides. There are stewardship program carried out by individual
pesticide companies with <strong>the</strong> aim <strong>of</strong> disseminating information on safe use <strong>of</strong> pesticides to farmers.
Environmental contamination and specific incidents
The Environmental Quality Act 1985 controls <strong>the</strong> discharge <strong>of</strong> toxic waste or effluents
including pesticides from factories into <strong>the</strong> environment and is regulated by <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong>
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