Impact of - IDL-BNC @ IDRC - International Development Research ...

pesticides in developing countries is difficult, because of the lack of infrastructure
needed for adequate implementation. Many international agencies and
developed countries are assisting developing country governments to establish
or strengthen such infrastructure. The Code of Conduct is in full agreement
with the London guidelines (UNEP 1989).
One of the main prerequisites for efficient risk management is an appropriate
registration procedure (FAO 1986). The FAO has developed specific guidelines
for registration of pesticides and accompanying legislation (FAO 1985a, 1989).
They describe designs for a regulatory scheme and list basic requirements for
the various phases of the registration process. All pesticides, regardless of use,
should undergo specific registration procedures. It is of utmost importance
that, within such a registration scheme, restrictions on pesticide availability
be elaborated, so that the more hazardous pesticides are available only to
properly trained operators. Only substances unlikely to present a hazard
under the recommended mode of use should be made available for general
use, such as in households.
In the recommended registration procedure, special emphasis is placed on
adequate labeling of every pesticidal product (FAO 1985b). The importance of
the container label and its information cannot be overemphasized. Label
instructions, particularly technical information, must be communicated in a
clear, concise way, as the safe and effective use of a pesticide will depend on
the user's understanding of statements on the label and his or her ability and
willingness to read and follow the instructions. Even when warnings and
other information about correct use appear on the labels, such information
may be of no use to people who are illiterate. Colour coding and pictograms,
recently developed by the pesticide industry and the FAO, may help alleviate
this problem.
Conclusion
Developing countries already face enormous problems because they must
conquer a large number of diseases and solve other long-term public-health
problems affecting ever-growing populations. They will have great difficulty
dealing in isolation with the health problems now posed by chemicals. If
sustained development is to be ensured, national health-care policies can no
longer ignore the problem of chemicals. In the long term, postponing preventive
action could prove to be a costly error.
Several factors handicap developing countries:
International trade in high-risk or inadequately tested chemicals, especially
when the sale of such substances has been forbidden or restricted
in the producing country;
Lack of understanding of the issues on the part of decision-makers;
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