PAN AP Congress accelerates PAN International's appeal for a progressive ban on Highly Hazardous Pesticides

04.09.2013, PAN International Media Statement - embargoed till 4 September 2013

Penang, Malaysia-Citing the upsurge in the rate of deterioration and harm to health and the environment, participants of the Pesticides Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) Congress 2013 unanimously agreed to accelerate PAN International's appeal for a progressive ban of highly hazardous pesticides. (HHPs)

The close of the PAN AP Congress 2013 on 4 September 2013 in Penang, Malaysia saw the whole hearted support of participating organizations for the appeal, with the signatures of 90 delegates from 23 Asia and other countries on the appeal.

The appeal states "Experience of decades has shown that, despite numerous 'safe use' programs, the "safe use" of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) is not possible. People, farm animals and the environment continue to suffer considerable harm from HHPs. After decades of failure which have seen millions of deaths worldwide, new policies are needed to stop pesticide poisonings. A progressive phase-out and ban of HHPs, along with new policies for supporting alternatives, can make a change towards a healthy world for all.

We, the undersigning organizations, call on governments and corporations to take concrete steps towards a progressive ban of highly hazardous HHPs and their substitution by ecosystem-based alternative systems."

Congress participants recalled the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2006 recommendation for a "progressive ban of highly hazardous pesticides" to contribute to effective pesticide risk reduction, and highlighted that as of the present time, little progress has been made yet to end the use of highly hazardous pesticides.

Sarojeni V. Rengam, Executive Director of PAN Asia and the Pacific and member of the PAN International steering committee, stated, "Biodiversity based ecological agriculture is a proven sustainable alternative and enough healthy food can be produced without using HHPs." Carina Weber, Executive Director of PAN Germany and also a member of the PAN International Steering Committee, added, "Some governments and corporations have already made a start and contributed to a progressive ban of highly hazardous pesticides. Now others should follow."

ends

PAN International is a coalition of global civil society organizations with regional centres in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America. PAN international is dedicated to eliminating the harm caused to humans and the environment by pesticides and promoting biodiversity based ecological agriculture.

For more information, contact:

• Sarojeni V. Rengam, PAN Asia and the Pacific/PAN International
  sarojeni.rengam@panap.net
• Carina Weber, PAN Germany/PAN International
  carina.weber@pan-germany.org

Sign the Global appeal
Send an e-mail to appeal(at)pan-germany.org with the subject: I/We sign the ‘Global appeal for a progressive ban on highly hazardous’ pesticides