A final decision made this week by the Hazardous Substance Committee, refusing to ban the import of paraquat and two other toxic chemicals, is flawed with doubt and controversy.
It shows how the state agencies concerned have failed to share public sentiment over a serious health issue. Import licences of paraquat are scheduled to expire next year.
Over the months, information about the health risks posed by those chemicals has alarmed the public, especially the findings by Chulalongkorn and Mahidol academics that suggested the chemical residues have entered the food chain. A number of countries including neighbouring Vietnam have banned the use of paraquat.
