Thai Minister of Public Health stated that paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are banned this year

Anutin Charnvirakul, Minister of Public Health of Thailand, recently stated that it is necessary to ban herbicides containing three toxic chemicals, paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos, this year.

 

He said: "Do we have to wait until more people die from these toxic chemicals to disable them."

 

Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture had opposed the total ban on these three widely used toxic herbicides, claiming that the sudden cessation of use would have a negative impact on farmers. To this end, the Ministry hopes to ensure the health and safety of farmers and consumers by training farmers to use pesticides correctly.

 

However, consumer groups demand a total ban on these substances, saying they are harmful to humans and the environment.

 

In 2018, the Thai Public Health and Social Reform Commission asked Thailand to ban paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos. Dr. Seree Tuchinda, then chairman of the National Public Health Reform Commission, said, “We have reached a consensus that these chemicals are risky to human health and the environment. But we need to study some issues carefully, including the shortage of agricultural labor. Further research will be conducted, especially in terms of the social impact of the chemical ban."

 

In 2017, the Thai Ministry of Health also tried to implement the ban, but it was not implemented because other institutions advocated continued use.