[Greens-Media] Greens welcome endosulfan ban

[John Kaye]

Greens welcome endosulfan ban 
 
Media release: 13 October 2010
 
The ban on the dangerous agricultural pesticide endosulfan is a positive step for consumers, farm workers and the environment but it should not have taken so long, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye. ('Australia joins other countries in banning endosulfan,' SMH 13 October, page 8, http://bit.ly/smh101013)
 
Dr Kaye said: "For two years the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) sat back and denied there was a problem while much of the rest of the world was busy banning endosulfan. 
 
"Australia has been poorly served by a regulator that shunned the mounting body of international evidence and put farm workers, the environment and consumers at risk. 
 
"Phasing out endosulfan now is a recognition of the inevitable banning on the persistent organic pollutant when the Stockholm Convention partners meet early next year. 
 
"It would be comforting to believe that APVMA had a moment of sudden enlightenment. However it is more likely that the regulator is saving itself from the embarrassment of being shown up by a global ban that is highly likely to emerge from the Stockholm Convention meeting early next year.
 
"There has been no shortage of international evidence that endosulfan is dangerous, nor has the environment movement and the media in Australia been silent about the consequences of continued use. 
 
"The national agricultural chemical watchdog has proved itself to be slow in responding  and deeply conservative. 
 
"The lesson here is that APVMA's decisions should be subjected to a thorough review to identify other chemical that threaten the health of consumers, farm workers and the environment," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000