Solon urges total ban on endosulfan in 2009

MANILA, Philippines - A senator has reminded the Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority (FPA) of its promise to enforce a a total ban on endosulfan in 2009. Sen. Pilar Juliana Cayetano said the FPA made a commitment not to renew the exemptions it had been granting to the country's two giant pineapple producers on the use of endosulfan. "I hope that for the safety of our farm workers as well as the environment, the FPA would have enough political will to finally impose a total ban on the use of endosulfan, which they themselves ordered 15 years ago," said Cayetano in a press statement posted on the Senate website. Endosulfan became a household word last June after the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars, which capsized off Romblon at the height of Typhoon Frank, was carrying the chemical. The discovery of the chemical triggered a fishing ban around the capsized ship, affecting fisherfolk in the area for fear of contamination. Cayetano noted the FPA had been enforcing a nationwide ban on the highly toxic pesticide since 1993, but had given exemptions to Del Monte Philippines Inc. (DMPI) and Dole Philippines Inc. (DPI). Data gathered by her office showed the exemption to the two firms for continued use of the substance is scheduled to expire Dec. 31. The exemption was granted to DMPI and DPI as "institutional users" of endosulfan under FPA Board Resolution No.003-2005 which was approved by the agency on November 16, 2005 and took effect on January 1, 2006. "Isn't 15 years more than enough time for these big corporations to find safer and more environment-friendly alternatives? There should be no more exemptions by the FPA, if we are to start the new year right," she added. Prior to the latest FPA resolution, the exemption granted to the two multi-national corporations was reportedly renewed at least ten times since the FPA issued Board Resolution No. 001-1993 on September 29, 1993. The resolution banned endosulfan use after the agency found that it had become "the nation's foremost cause of poisoning through simple inhalation to skin exposure." Originally shipped from Israel by Del Monte for its vast pineapple pineapples in Bukidnon province, the cargo was safely retrieved from the MV Princess of the Stars in October. But environmentalists and farmers' groups questioned FPA's failure to enforce a total ban on the pesticide despite overwhelming evidence of its dangers to people's health and the environment. As per the agreement of Del Monte and FPA, the retrieved cargo was supposed to be shipped back to its manufacturer in Israel, Makteshim Agan, for proper disposal. - GMANews.TV