Press Releases
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AFCD launches consultations on new pesticide control The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is consulting pesticide manufacturers and traders, farmers, pest control service providers, pesticide applicators and related parties on the proposed legislative amendments to improve pesticide control. AFCD Senior Agricultural Officer (Regulatory), Miss Wendy Ko, said today (October 4) that there was a need to revise the current pesticide registration system under the Pesticides Ordinance to better safeguard public health and the environment while not denying access to the benefits of pesticides. "We propose to replace the current registration on active ingredient alone with a registration system that covers active and inert ingredients, concentration, formulation, and intended usage of each individual pesticide product. "In addition, we plan to expand the Register to four parts to better reflect the differences in toxicity, persistence, use pattern, and environmental and health hazards," Miss Ko said. Pesticides registered under Part I and Part II, covering domestic ready-to-use and general use concentrates pesticides, would be classified as 'General Pesticides'. Pesticides for agricultural and special pest control applications would be classified under Part III and Part IV as 'Restricted Pesticides'. "We also propose to restrict the availability of the more hazardous pesticides only to qualified and trained users. 'Restricted Pesticides' will only be made available to authorised farmers and licenced pest control service providers," Miss Ko said. To ensure safe application of pesticides, AFCD is going to licence pest control service providers and register pesticide applicators. "A pest control service provider who applies registered pesticides in public areas or on other peoples' properties will have to apply for a licence to operate and access restricted pesticides. "Service providers can only employ trained pesticide applicators, who are required to register with the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation," Miss Ko said. Under the proposed legislative amendments, farmers are required to undertake training conducted by AFCD before they are authorised to purchase and use restricted pesticides. Furthermore, labels that come with registered pesticides will be given statutory effects and pesticide users are obliged to follow the instructions on the labels. Miss Ko said the proposed legislative amendments will empower AFCD inspectors to enter, search, seize and detain chemicals and documents to facilitate enforcement of the ordinance. "We propose to allow a transition period of two years to register pesticides under the new registration system, to licence pest control service providers, to register pesticide applicators, and to train and authorise farmers," she noted. AFCD will conduct presentations on the proposed legislative amendments to relevant parties in the trade. Views will also be solicited from the Consumer Council and the general public. The consultation document is available on AFCD's website (http://www.afcd.gov.hk/). Copies of the paper are also available from AFCD Headquarters, 5th floor, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon. Members of the public can also obtain copies at the Information Services Department Marketing Office, Room 408, 4th floor, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong. General enquiries on the consultation can be made at 2150 7007. All comments should forward to the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation. Comments can also be sent by fax to 2736 9904, or e-mail to 'afcdenq@afcd.gcn.gov.hk' before December 31, 2000. |
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