Last Monday saw an important court ruling on hazardous farm chemicals. The verdict issued by a California court should serve as a sign for the Thai government to review its policy on farm chemicals and the much-debated weed killer glyphosate.
The California appeals court upheld a US$86 million (2.9 billion baht) verdict that found Bayer responsible for a couple's cancer after using Bayer's glyphosate-based product Roundup to kill weeds. German-based Bayer, which acquired the Roundup brand as part of its acquisition of US-based Monsanto in 2018, lost a third appeal against US court verdicts awarding damages to customers blaming their cancers on use of its glyphosate-based weedkiller.
Bayer has been plagued by numerous lawsuits from plaintiffs who claim the glyphosate-based herbicides contributed to their non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The company resolved about 75% of the cases with nearly $10 billion in settlement payments last year, but faces further claims associated with residential use of the herbicide on lawns and gardens.
The use of glyphosate by Thai farmers to clear weeds before harvesting has been a topic of debate ever since 2015 when the World Health Organization (WHO) labelled the chemical as most likely carcinogenic to humans -- a move that ultimately prompted an outright ban in several countries. Austria became the first EU member to outlaw glyphosate use in July this year, with restrictions also in force in the Czech Republic, Italy and the Netherlands. France and Germany are both planning to phase it out by 2023. Even so, product remains is use in several countries including the US as well as Thailand, albeit with certain restrictions.
In Thailand, the attempt to ban toxic farm chemicals, especially the trio of paraquat, chlorpyrifos and glyphosate, started in 2017 and was met with fierce resistance from farm chemical companies and pro-chemical farmers who lamented loss of revenue and difficulty in finding alternatives.
Indeed, the National Hazardous Substances Committee (NHSC) voted to ban all three in October 2019, after being pressured by consumers and conservationists.
The ban triggered fierce resistance from the farming industry as well as reports of a leaked memo revealing the US government had lobbed Thai government against the ban.
Subsequently, the NHSC voted in November that year to ban the use of paraquat and chlorpyrifos, but only restrict the use of glyphosate in the agricultural sector. The initial April 1, 2020 deadline was then moved to June 1 that same year.
The ban was effective to a certain extent. Even as the chemicals disappeared from the market, it is believed farmers turned instead to underground sources. In March this year, seven elephants suffered serious burns to their mouths and tongues from eating grass contaminated with the herbicide paraquat at a border village in Omkoi district.
The elephants recovered from the incident but imagine the consequences to humans of consuming fruit and vegetables tainted with paraquat throughout their lives.
For glyphosate, the Department of Agriculture issued restrictions, including limiting sales to authorised sellers; paraquat must be displayed in separate shelf with banner showing a warning. Farmers must clarify their farm size and the type of crop before purchase. Labourers hired to spray the chemical must have a permit, and wear protective outfits such as PPE, boots, face masks and gloves. Glyphosate is banned from being sprayed on vegetables and herbs; and discharges into public water such as canal and ponds is prohibited.
But in practice, the use of this farm chemical is still rampant. Glyphosate is easily obtainable from online platforms. With lax enforcement, it is no surprise had this chemical continues to be sprayed on vegetables and herbs.
It is apparent the restriction on glyphosate has not been strictly enforced, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives must work harder to enforce restrictions to enhance safety for consumers and farmers.
The government must launch a reliable project to monitor contamination in public waterways, or even possible contamination in vegetables and herbs, as well as health monitoring for farmers who apply this hazardous substance.
The government has announced its aim to become kitchen of the world, and an exporter of healthy and organic products. To do so, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's government must find alternatives to toxic farm chemicals and set out a bold and ambitious timeline to phase out dangerous chemicals.
The government must have the will to encourage farmers to step away from a toxic past and embrace a cleaner and healthier future.
