Dept backs down over herbs list

The Department of Agriculture has bowed to criticism over the listing of 13 plants as hazardous substances by agreeing to amend the announcement.

The department will also revise the draft regulation controlling the production and sale of natural pesticides.

Department chief Somchai Charnnarongkul said the plants' listing had caused panic and misunderstanding among farmers and the public.

The department would propose that the Hazardous Substances Committee chaired by the permanent secretary for industry amend the announcement.

"I'm sorry for creating panic and confusion," Mr Somchai told the media a day after farmers' advocates and traditional medicine experts led an outcry over the announcement which they said would cause damage to farmers and herbal medicine makers.

But the department chief denied farmers' allegations that the listing was aimed at curbing the use of natural pesticides in favour of farm chemicals produced by multinational companies.

"There is no such wicked idea in our heads. The department has spent more than 20 years researching and promoting herbs as alternatives to farm chemicals. We stand firm by our policy to cut the use of toxic farm chemicals," he said.

"I can assure you that there is no hidden agenda and the department has no intention of hurting organic farmers or favouring multinational farm chemical producers."

The growing popularity of natural pesticides among Thai farmers has had only a slight impact on multinational firms' chemical sales. Statistics show imports of farm chemicals are still on the rise, he said.

The announcement, which took effect on Feb 3, lists the 13 plants as hazardous substances type 1, as proposed by the department .

It requires producers and traders of pesticides made from the listed plants to register with the department and label the products as hazardous.

Mr Somchai said he would propose to the committee that it change the wording in the announcement to make it more specific on the substances that are used as pesticides.

"The current announcement is too vague and can cause confusion. We need to make it clear that only natural pesticides made from the listed plants are controlled. Those who use the plants for other purposes, such as medicines or food, won't be affected," he said.

The announcement is intended to safeguard farmers from substandard pesticides while allowing the department to take legal action against producers of poor quality products.

Around 90% of natural pesticides, such as neem cake, checked at random in markets were found to be substandard and not effective, Mr Somchai said.

The department chief said he would also withdraw for revision the department's regulation on the registration of herbal products now in the process of being declared in the Royal Gazette.

"We will make sure the regulation won't have a negative impact on individual farmers or farm groups who produce the botanical pesticides on a non-commercial scale," he said.

Prime Minster Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said the listing was a sensitive issue and he assigned Deputy Prime Minister Kobsak Sabhavasu, who oversees the Industry Ministry, to look into it, especially the allegation that multinational firms would benefit.

Farmer advocates, however, were unhappy with the department's proposed amendment.

"We want all 13 plants removed from the list, not just the alteration of the wording," said Witoon Lianchamroon, director of Biothai, a non-government organisation that works on organic farming.

Mr Witoon said the department had failed to control the quality and price of toxic farm chemicals sold by multinational companies, but was prepared to get tough with farmers producing cheap and non-hazardous natural pesticides.

He also questioned the legality of the announcement as it was approved by the Hazardous Substances Committee four months after the expiry of the term of its expert panel.

The 1992 Hazardous Substances Act was amended in February last year to include representatives from farmer and consumer protection groups on the panel. The expert panel's term was to end in August to pave the way for the new body.

The government should investigate the committee's operations, Mr Witoon said.