Call for Phase-out of Hazardous Pesticides

The Special Rapporteurs on hazardous substances and on the right to food issued a joint call for a worldwide phase-out of highly hazardous pesticides, in connection with the fourth meeting of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (28 September to 2 October 2015).  This is the last gathering of its kind before 2020, the year by which States pledged to achieve sound management of chemicals following the 2002 Earth Summit.

Baskut Tuncak, the Special Rapporteur on hazardous substances, pointed out that coordinated global action to reduce highly hazardous pesticide use has not materialized since the Earth Summit. “Risks are particularly grave in developing countries, many of which import these highly hazardous pesticides despite having inadequate systems to reduce risks,” he said.

The full text of the press release is available here.