XN000022-1977-05-13 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1977

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IMPORT, SALE AND SUPPLY OF AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES

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A BILL, AIMED AT CONTROLLING THE IMPORT, SALE AND SUPPLY OF AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES, WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION.

KNOWN AS THE AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES BILL 1977, IT WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

IF ENACTED, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A REGISTER OF AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES IN TWO PARTS. PART I WILL LIST AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNCONDITIONALLY AND PART II WILL LIST THOSE WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY THE DIRECTOR.

UNDER THE BILL, A LICENCE MUST BE HELD FOR THE IMPORTATION, SALE OR SUPPLY OF REGISTERED PESTICIDES AND A PERMIT FOR THE IMPORTATION, SALE, SUPPLY OR POSSESSION OF THOSE WHICH ARE UNREGISTERED.

HOWEVER, LICENCES WILL NOT BE REQUIRED BY FARMERS, HORTICULTURISTS AND HOUSEHOLDERS WHO LEND, EXCHANGE, OR SUPPLY REGISTERED PESTICIDES TO EACH OTHER ON A NON-COMMERCIAL BASIS OR POSSESS SUCH FOR THEIR OWN USE.

TO ENABLE A SMOOTH INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW

LEGISLATION AND AN UNINTERRUPTED FLOW OF PESTICIDES TO THE USERS, TRADERS (EXCEPT SOME IMPORTERS) WILL BE GIVEN A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE TO APPLY FOR THEIR LICENCES.

IF THE BILL IS PASSED REGULATIONS WILL BE MADE TO CONTROL THE LABELLING, PACKAGING AND HANDLING OF PESTICIDES.

LABELS WILL THEN BE REQUIRED TO INDICATE THE NAME AND STRENGTH OF EACH PESTICIDE, THUS ENABLING FARMERS TO MAKE MORE EFFICIENT USE OF THEM AND FACILITATING TREATMENT IN CASES OF ACCIDENTAL POISONING.

CONTROL OF PACKAGING WILL HELP PREVENT PESTICIDES BEING SOLD IN SUCH UNSUITABLE CONTAINERS AS BEER OR SOY SAUCE BOTTLES, WHILE CONTROL OF HANDLING WILL PREVENT THEM FROM BEING STORED OR SOLD WHERE THERE IS A RISK OF CONTAMINATION OF FOOD STUFFS.

COMMENTING ON THE BILL, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WAS TO FACILITATE SAFER AND MORE PROPER USE OF AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES, MOST OF WHICH ARE HIGHLY TOXIC AND POISONOUS CHEMICALS.

/HE POINTED