SA Bans Agricultural Use of Lindane
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Nov 11 2008 at 1:51 PM
Lindane >>

Lindane is to be banned in South Africa for agricultural use early next year.

According to Gerhard Verdoorn, spokesperson for the Association of Veterinary and Crop Associations of SA, the agriculture department has banned all pesticide formulations containing Lindane for agriculture, garden, home and public health use by March 2009.

“It is a persistent organic pollutant and no longer fits into modern pesticide science,” Verdoorn said.

“It scares me to think that the pesticide industry and the department have taken perfect action on a pesticide, but it’s still an over-the-counter drug available to the public, especially as a medicinal remedy for children. The health department should take off the product from the shelves as soon as possible,” he said.

According to Mukesh Dheda, the national pharmaco-vigilance coordinator at the health department, an investigation into the use of the product is being carried out and the package insert is being assessed at this time.

A spokesman representing the agricultural department said that South Africa is a member of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

“Therefore South Africa deems it fit to abide by this decision to ban it,” he said.

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals.

Comments