Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that he is not opposed to the Hazardous Substance Committee's decision to delay the ban on paraquat, but stressed that the decision must be properly explained to calm the public uproar.
Gen Prayut made the comment Monday, after 686 civic groups pledged to pressure the 29-member committee into reviewing their decision by bringing the issue to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Administrative Court.
Civic groups mounted a fierce campaign after the committee on Thursday decided to allow the continued use of three toxic herbicides -- paraquat, glyphosate, and chlorpyrifos -- despite repeated calls from consumer groups and the Public Health Ministry to impose a total ban.
Gen Prayut said that the government agrees with the campaigners' stance that the hazardous substances must not be used in farming, but added that it cannot intervene with the committee's decision.
"Instead, the government will follow up with a plan to reduce and phase out their use as soon as possible," said the premier after Monday's cabinet meeting.
The committee must be able to answer concerns raised by all sides, continued Gen Prayut, before adding that an adequate response can help prevent the issue from escalating further.
One of the questions raised by the committee's decision is whether the resolution was passed in favour of businesses.
The concern was raised in a statement released by the network of civic groups, who suspected some committee members are protecting their interests by delaying the ban.
"I don't know who they [critics] are referring to," Gen Prayut said, before adding that he has no idea if the accusations are grounded in facts, or were simply floated to stir up problems.
Gen Prayut also insisted that the government has been actively promoting organic farming.
"Over the years, organic farms have grown by millions of rai," he said
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Grisada Boonrach said last Friday the committee agreed first to limit the use of paraquat and is planning to find alternative solutions.
The ban might be implemented in the next two years "if the country has viable alternatives" to replace paraquat, Mr Grisada said.
Paraquat is decried by health officials and consumer rights advocates who say it not only harms farmers, but its residue can also harm newborn babies.
The toxic herbicide has already been banned in 53 countries over health concerns.