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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1987
SEVEN AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES TO BE DE-REGISTERED
SEVEN
AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES WHICH ARE CONSIDERED NOT SUITABLE FOR LOCAL USB, WILL BE DR-REGISTERED WITH EFFECT FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY), IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES INVOLVED IN THE DE-REGISTRATION EXERCISE, CONDUCTED UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES ORDINANCE, ARE CYHEXATIN, ALDRIN, ᎠᎠᎢ; DDT/LINDANE, DDT/NALED, DIELDRIN AND
PCP/DIELDRIN.
SENIOR CROP DEVELOPMENT OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MISS VERA SO, SAID RECENT TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES SHOWED THAT CYHEXATIN IS TERATOGENIC TO LABORATORY ANIMALS AND AS A RESULT, THE MANUFACTURER REQUSTED FOR THE VOLUNTARY CANCELLATION OF ITS REGISTRATION.
"ALDRIN, DDT AND DIELDRIN ARE CONSIDERED TOO PERSISTENT AND
THEIR USE MAY BE HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
"FURTHERMORE, THEIR AGRICULTURAL USES HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY LESS PERSISTENT AND LESS TOXIC ALTERNATIVES.
"HENCE, THESE PESTICIDES DE-REGISTERED," MISS SO SAID.
AND THEIR
ASSOCIATED MIXTURES ARE
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THESE PESTICIDES HAVE HITHERTO BEEN ON THE REGISTER, SHE SAID, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE ON SALE LOCALLY.
"CYHEXATIN HAS NEVER BEEN SUPPLIED FOR LOCAL USE WHILE ALDRIN, DDT/LINDANE, DDT/NALED AND PCP/DIELDRIN MIXTURES HAVE NOT BEEN ON RETAIL SALE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
"ONLY LIMITED QUANTITIES OF DDT ARE ON RETAIL SALB AT A FEW PESTICIDE SHOPS," MISS SO SAID.
ALL LICENSED PESTICIDE IMPORTERS, SUPPLIERS AND RETAILERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE CANCELLATION.
THEY MAY APPLY FOR A POSSESSION PERMIT то FACILITATE THE RE-EXPORT OF THESE PESTICIDES.
SHE SAID HER DEPARTMENT WOULD GIVE FARMERS AND PESTICIDE USERS A PERIOD OF TIME UP TO JANUARY 8, 1988 TO SURRENDER THESE PESTICIDES, IF ANY, TO THE NBAREST AFD OFFICE IN THE TERRITORY FOR PROPER DISPOSAL.
"THEREAFTER, ANY PERSON WHO IS FOUND IN POSSESSION OF ANY OF THESE PESTICIDES WITHOUT A VALID PERMIT, WILL BE PROSECUTED, MISS SO SAID, ADDING THAT SUCH AN OFFENCE IS PUNISHABLE BY A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE DE-REGISTRATION AND THE PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING FOR A POSSESSION PERMIT CAN BE MADE TO THE DEPARTMENT'S PLANT AND PESTICIDE REGULATORY UNIT ON 3-7332163 OR 3-7332180.
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