Institutional capacity, awareness key to protect from pesticides-laced vegetables

Inter-governmental coordination, institutional capacity and awareness among the consumers and farmers are essential to prevent people from consuming vegetables laced with excessive amount of pesticides, according to the experts.
Discussing on the new Pesticides Bill, which will replace the Pesticides Act 1991, at the interaction on ‘Pesticides Law and its Implementation’ – jointly organised by Plant Quarantine and Pesticides Management Centre (PQPMC), Forum for Protection of Consumers’ Rights-Nepal and South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) – here today, the participants also pointed out the need for creating awareness.
Moderating the programme programme director at the SAWTEE Dr Dhrubesh Chandra Regmi said that the programme was being organised to provide inputs on the regulation and bylaws, which will provide functional clarity to the upcoming legislation. “Excessive, improper use and unsound disposal of the pesticides calls for better regulation and implementation,” he added.
Likewise, director-general at the Plant Quarantine and Pesticides Management Centre Dr Dilli Ram Sharma – making his presentation – pointed out the need for creating awareness on optimal use of pesticides by strengthening agriculture extension services and mobilising the private sector, as improper handling and disposal of pesticides not only impact consumers’ health but is also hazardous to farmers’ lives.
He also explained that the new Pesticides Bill has tried to address many concerns. “The Bill has expanded the definition of pesticides, introduced provisions for registration of bio-pesticides, regulations to dispose expired and damaged pesticides and penalty for farmers who use excessive pesticides,” he added.
Similarly, chairperson of the Forum for Protection of Consumers’ Rights-Nepal Jyoti Baniya – presenting paper – talked about the existing issues related to pesticides use and testing. He pointed out that the regulations and bylaws have to provide clarity on coordination among involved government agencies such as the agriculture ministry, customs, commerce ministry. He said that the recent decision of the government to restrict import of fresh vegetables and fruits was made without adequate preparation because the plant quarantine office at custom points are not authorised to conduct pesticides tests.
Urging the need to ensure functional inter-governmental cooperation, chairman at the SAWTEE Dr Posh Raj Pandey seconded Baniya. “If current mechanism is continued, where all these entities are governed by different authorities and legislations without any coordination, we will not achieve desired results,” he added.
Likewise, acting director at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) Dr Matina Shrestha, on the occasion, also called attention to inadequate laboratory facility for testing in Nepal. She also informed that DFTQC is working on testing acceptable level of pesticide residues for food items –both fresh and packaged and has already prepared the list of 10 such items which will soon be published in the Gazette to become legally binding.
Officials from concerned department under MoALD, representatives from farmers’ associations, wellness experts, consumer and human rights activists, representatives from media also pointed out the need for equipped laboratories, efficient technical support and effective coordination between government agencies and other stakeholders.

Government to issue licence to water bottling plants

The government is planning to issue licence to the water bottling and refining plants to discourage unregistered plants that are supplying unsafe drinking water, according to a senior government officer.
The government will also suggest the consumers to drink the bottled water of the licensed plants only, said director general of Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) Jeevan Prabha Lama speaking at an interaction 'Safe Drinking water’, here today.
The government, though, is committed to promote safe bottled drinking water, there has been practical difficulties as the water bottling plants are using various tricks to cheat consumers.
The department has examined 79 bottled water samples in the fiscal year 2011-12 and found 52 samples contaminated either from fungi or coliform, harmful bacteria. "There is no improvement this year too," she said, adding that the department is being strict to the bottling plants.
The licence will be issued to the bottling plants that conduct regular lab tests and supply drinking water in strict monitoring, Lama added.
However, consumer rights activists have been demanding strong action against bottled drinking water plants that do not meet basic hygiene criteria like low coliform — calculated from Total Plate Count — pH value that should be between pH 6.5 and 9.5. "But the best pH value in drinking water is seven, when the affect of acidity and alkalinity are calculated," according to World Health Organisation (WHO).
"The same tankers are used to carry drinking water and other sanitary purposes," said general secretary of Citizen Justice Consumers' Forum Prakash Subedi. "How can they maintain quality?"
Industries that have invested with above Rs 50 million and Rs 5 million are selling bottled drinking water at the same price, he said, asking the department how it is possible to maintain quality.
Nepal Bottled Water Association has welcomed the plan of the department. "Unregistered water bottling plants have ruined the image of bottled waters," said president of association Dharma Nanda Shrestha.
Currently, around 200 registered and 250 unregistered water bottling plants are in operation in the country.
Public health experts, on the occasion, said unsafe drinking water is the major cause of disease among people living in the towns. "About 80 per cent to 90 per cent of city people suffer from water borne diseases," said Dr Mahesh Man Shrestha. "Controlling unsafe drinking water will not only help reduce public health risk but also saves million in medicines," he added.
Kathmandu needs about 350 million litres of water but the government supply is just 150 million litres. The supply also decreases to 80 million litres in the winter, forcing the Kathmanduites to depend on bottled drinking water as the government supply is just 30 per cent of the total demand.