MP may loosen rules for pesticides

BRASILIA-the Government prepares a provisional measure to loosen the rules for registration of pesticides in the country. The text, drawn up by the Ministry of agriculture in collaboration with the productive sector, creates an opening for the use of pesticides that today would be classified as carcinogenic, teratogenic (with risk of malformation in fetuses) or ability to cause cell mutations. Currently, any product which meets any of these features is not allowed to be released in Brazil.
The change would be possible thanks to the inclusion of the phrase "under the conditions recommended for use" in the text of the current law, 7,802 number, 1989. This merger provided for in MP would release products considered harmful to health in lab tests, provided that certain conditions were met to reduce the risk of these effects. Among these conditions are the use of personal protective equipment during the application of pesticides or of pulverisers protected with cabins with negative pressure.
"The Brazil follows the philosophy of the danger. The ideal is that we spent to adopt risk management, "said the Director of the Association of Brazil''s soybean Producers (Aprosoja Brazil), Fabricio Rosa. For him, the new text would provide a breakthrough in the sector. "The risk of toxicity is not equivalent to what occurs in the laboratory", defends.
The Executive Director of the National Union of the product Industry for Plant Defense (Sindiveg), Silvia Fagnani, have similar assessment. She stated that the current rules are too strict. "The fire itself is dangerous. But the fire, where the risk is controlled, can help warm up who''s next. The risk assessment follows the same philosophy ", compared. She argues that laboratory test results, made with animals, cannot be used as a parameter to what happens with human beings, in the field.
Security. Although greeted with enthusiasm by agribusiness, the proposal faces resistance within the Government itself. In technical note, members of the Brazilian Institute of environment and renewable natural resources (Ibama) were opposed to change. "The issue of MP you can generate insecurity in the population about the exposure of people and natural resources concern and substances, too, about the contamination of agricultural products," according to the text.
In the three-page document, the institution argues that the risk assessment of pesticides is a relevant theme, but that your application requires a structure not yet available in the country. "At this point is premature, hasty measure and that, in practice, may not be met, especially in the later stages of evaluation, involving studies of greater complexity," says the note.
EPA notes that the results of tests of risk assessment made in other countries cannot simply be considered as applicable in Brazil. The risks of the product, adds the institution, must be evaluated in the local species and under conditions found in the country. The text recalls that simple recommendation of use of the product does not guarantee per se, the reduction of risks. For that they need to be fulfilled to the letter. Something that there''s no way to be guaranteed, especially given the weaknesses in supervision.
IBAMA has not been called to draw up the text
Among the criticisms of members of Ibama to provisional measure that must change the registration of pesticides is the abolition of a rule which provides that only can be registered in Brazil products toxic action arguably equal to or less than the existing currently.
Healthcare analysts heard by the State have similar assessment. They argue that the current rule serves as an incentive for industry to redouble their efforts to launch safer products for both health and the environment.
IBAMA and national agency of sanitary surveillance (Anvisa), with the Ministry of agriculture, the Technical Advisory Committee, tasked with evaluating the criteria for the use of pesticides in the country. The Anvisa analyze whether the product is safe for your health. Ibama, for your time, seeks to measure the impact of the use of pesticides in the environment.
"It is not only economic criteria should be evaluated. There are other important points such as security, which must be taken into consideration, "said an analyst of health heard by the State.
The wording of the text was presented in the Committee less than three months. Neither Anvisa or Ibama participated in the drafting of the document. Sought, the Anvisa not manifested. The Executive Director of the Sindiveg, Silvia Fagnani, said that the Union participated in the discussions for the preparation of the text. The Ministry of agriculture said only that the MP is under evaluation. The Ministry of Health said not knowing the subject.