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Three pesticides to be deregistered tomorrow
Starting tomorrow (Tuesday), three Part I pesticide combinations containing the chemical Mirex will be deregistered.
Making the announcement, an Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) senior agricultural officer, Dr Ian Hunter, said the three pesticides to be deregistered are: Mirex, Acephate/Mirex and Mirex/Rhodojaponin-I/Rotenone.
Dr Hunter pointed out that with effect from tomorrow, traders are required to apply to AFD for a permit to import and re-export these mirex-based pesticides. All activities relating to the supply and retail of any of these pesticides after that date would be prohibited under the Pesticides Ordinance unless under permit conditions. Contravention carries a maximum penalty of $50,000 and to imprisonment for one
year.
He stressed that the deregistration followed AFD's review on toxicological and environmental data and world status of mirex which recommended that the pesticide be removed from the register.
The proposal was endorsed by the Inter-departmental Expert Committee on Pesticides in November last year, he said.
"As the pesticides are popular in Hong Kong for termite and domestic cockroach control, Mirex importers and distributors were notified of the possible deregistration in January this year. All other pesticide licence holders were informed in August.
added.
"Stocks of these pesticides were also monitored for a number of months," he
Traders reacted positively to AFD's proposed action by agreeing to the running down of stocks, re-exporting or surrendering existing stocks at the time of deregistration and putting forward alternative chemicals for registration to fill the gap in the market left by the withdrawal of mirex-based products.
Dr Hunter said that traders, importers or distributors should let the department know of any remaining pesticide stock so that they can be informed of the proper disposal method.