No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeCosta Rica Aims to Ban Highly Hazardous Pesticides

Costa Rica Aims to Ban Highly Hazardous Pesticides

Costa Rica is moving to ban highly hazardous pesticides, thanks to a new bill that is currently being discussed by congressional representatives in the Special Permanent Commission on Environment. The initiative would prohibit these chemicals, which have already been banned in at least 70% of OECD member countries. It was presented in June 2023 by independent deputy Kattia Cambronero and is being processed under the title “Regulation of Highly Hazardous Pesticides for Health and the Environment,” under File 23,783.

The draft defines highly hazardous pesticides as those that meet international criteria for high toxicity, including those classified by WHO as extremely or highly hazardous, or those with evidence of causing cancer, genetic mutations, or affecting reproduction, according to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

The bill establishes that the Ministries of Environment and Energy (Minae), Health, and Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) must update the national list of banned pesticides every two years. It also includes biannual risk assessments, considering criteria such as the classification by international organizations like the WHO, FAO, EFSA, or EPA; proven evidence of harm to health or the environment; and the existence of viable alternatives that are less harmful.

MAG’s training, technical assistance, and extension programs will be strengthened to support the agricultural sector in transitioning to more sustainable practices. To finance these initiatives, the law mandates the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) to allocate at least 25% of the revenues from the 1.5% tax on the CIF value declared by each agrochemical importer to research alternative methods to using chemical pesticides, including biological controllers and integrated crop management.

This proposal represents a significant advancement toward healthier and more environmentally friendly agriculture. National and international studies have determined that Costa Rica is one of the countries in the world that applies the most pesticides per agricultural area, with estimates ranging from 10 to 35 kilograms per hectare. Of the ten most widely used pesticides in the country, eight are Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), according to a technical report by the Research Institute of Toxic Substances of the National University (UNA).

Popular Articles

Costa Rica’s Journalists’ Day: Press Freedom in Crisis

Every May 30, Costa Rica marks National Journalists’ Day, a time to honor the vital role journalists play in upholding democracy. Established in 2010...

Parasite Outbreak in Costa Rica’s Howler Monkeys Tied to Tourism and Land Use Changes

Howler monkeys in Costa Rica are facing a growing threat from bot fly larvae infestations, and new research points to tourism and land use...

Costa Rica Pushes New Law to Protect Coral Reefs and Seagrasses

Independent Congresswoman Kattia Cambronero has put forward a bill to safeguard Costa Rica’s coral reefs and seagrass beds, addressing the growing threats to these...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest Articles