ID :
139340
Wed, 08/25/2010 - 18:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/139340
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Yemen turns back 195 tons illegal pesticides to their countries
By: Mahmoud Assamiee
and Derhim Assufiani SANA'A, August 25-(Saba)-Yemen returned back 195 tons of
pesticides
during the first half of this year. These quantities of pesticides are prohibited
and entered the country illegally.
Director of Plant Protection at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation
Abdullah Al-Sayani said that these pesticides have been stopped at the border and
accumulated
there to be retuned to the countries imported from.
These pesticides were turned back to the countries they were produced because they
entered the country illegally and some of them are prohibited, he said." These
pesticides
came from China, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates." He indicated
that the Protection of Plant General Directorate in cooperation with custom
authority has
been able to return back five trucks containing 86 tons of illegal pesticides from
Hudiedah Port.
Al-Sayani revealed that the ministry of agriculture is carrying out campaigns to
reduce importing pesticides to the country as they are dangerous to human health
and on
environment. During the first half of this year, the ministry has carried out 11
campaigns to inspect stores selling pesticides in Sana'a, Taiz, Ibb, Hudeidah,
Dhamar and
Al-Baidha'a.
These campaigns resulted in closing 61 stores violated pesticides law out of 139
inspected stores in targeted governorates. According to Al-Sayanni, 4.5 tons of
pesticides
have been confiscated during the campaign and kept in the ministry's stores. After
examination, these pesticides are being used in getting rid of plant epidemics by
the ministry.
Over the measures taken by the ministry against violators, Al-Sayani said that 101
violation reports have been made and submitted to the prosecution. However, the
ministry
has granted three new licenses to import pesticides and renewed 14 others to
importers in several governorates after making sure that they fit the law.
However he said that it is difficult to get rid of these pesticides by burning as
this process will cause environment catastrophe. At the same time, getting rid of
them
through specialized companies will cost "the country USD 10 per one litter." He also
admitted that they cannot stop all illegal pesticides coming to the country because
of
smuggling as there are many ways to smugglers on the vast ground border of Yemen
with Saudi Arabia and Oman. "Pesticides smuggling is active like medicine
smuggling," he
affirmed.
On the other hand, a report issued by the ministry recently on pesticides used in
Yemen mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation carried a program
on measuring
the traces of pesticides in agricultural products.
According to the report, a specialized team with portable appliances has made 24
field visits to central markets of vegetables and fruits and qat in a number of
governorates
to find the remained effect of pesticides in these products.
According to Al-Sayani, the results showed that there are different levels of
remaining effects of pesticides in these products and differ from one product to
another with
qat contains the highest rate of chemicals.
To study more the effects of pesticides on products and identifying the type of the
pesticide and its dangers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation launched a
specialized
central laboratory in Sana'a.
The laboratory will help the ministry identify the traces of pesticides in crops
as it is considered one of the modern and accurate means in controlling the
pesticides.
According to Al-Sayani, the General Directorate for Plant Protection has started
evaluating pesticides existing in the country after operating the laboratory.
In field of eliminating empty bottles of pesticides, the report revealed that great
numbers have been covered in save way.
According to Al-Sayani, Yemen imports nearly 360 tons of legal pesticides formally
every year and this figure reduced from 500 tons in 2006. He said Yemen is still
among
the countries which imports limited quantities of pesticides for agricultural
production. He argued that to improve the production, the country still needs
between 1500-2000
tons every year.
Two years ago, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation circulated a list banning
importing 349 types of pesticides to Yemen. The list angered pesticides merchants
who
described it as abusive measure against their trade.
They directed a message to the president of the republic to interfere in the case
and direct the ministry of agriculture to allow them import these types of
pesticides they
described as of economic profit and did not contain toxics.
However, media reports say that there are 373 types of prohibited pesticides in
Yemen and there are 700 kinds of chemicals, toxic items and pesticides used in
agriculture
and namely for quick production of qat.
According to estimations of officials in the Ministry of Agriculture and
Irrigation, 80 percent of pesticides go for qat production.
Specialized doctors say these chemicals were of the main reasons behind spreading
cancer in Yemen.
and Derhim Assufiani SANA'A, August 25-(Saba)-Yemen returned back 195 tons of
pesticides
during the first half of this year. These quantities of pesticides are prohibited
and entered the country illegally.
Director of Plant Protection at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation
Abdullah Al-Sayani said that these pesticides have been stopped at the border and
accumulated
there to be retuned to the countries imported from.
These pesticides were turned back to the countries they were produced because they
entered the country illegally and some of them are prohibited, he said." These
pesticides
came from China, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates." He indicated
that the Protection of Plant General Directorate in cooperation with custom
authority has
been able to return back five trucks containing 86 tons of illegal pesticides from
Hudiedah Port.
Al-Sayani revealed that the ministry of agriculture is carrying out campaigns to
reduce importing pesticides to the country as they are dangerous to human health
and on
environment. During the first half of this year, the ministry has carried out 11
campaigns to inspect stores selling pesticides in Sana'a, Taiz, Ibb, Hudeidah,
Dhamar and
Al-Baidha'a.
These campaigns resulted in closing 61 stores violated pesticides law out of 139
inspected stores in targeted governorates. According to Al-Sayanni, 4.5 tons of
pesticides
have been confiscated during the campaign and kept in the ministry's stores. After
examination, these pesticides are being used in getting rid of plant epidemics by
the ministry.
Over the measures taken by the ministry against violators, Al-Sayani said that 101
violation reports have been made and submitted to the prosecution. However, the
ministry
has granted three new licenses to import pesticides and renewed 14 others to
importers in several governorates after making sure that they fit the law.
However he said that it is difficult to get rid of these pesticides by burning as
this process will cause environment catastrophe. At the same time, getting rid of
them
through specialized companies will cost "the country USD 10 per one litter." He also
admitted that they cannot stop all illegal pesticides coming to the country because
of
smuggling as there are many ways to smugglers on the vast ground border of Yemen
with Saudi Arabia and Oman. "Pesticides smuggling is active like medicine
smuggling," he
affirmed.
On the other hand, a report issued by the ministry recently on pesticides used in
Yemen mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation carried a program
on measuring
the traces of pesticides in agricultural products.
According to the report, a specialized team with portable appliances has made 24
field visits to central markets of vegetables and fruits and qat in a number of
governorates
to find the remained effect of pesticides in these products.
According to Al-Sayani, the results showed that there are different levels of
remaining effects of pesticides in these products and differ from one product to
another with
qat contains the highest rate of chemicals.
To study more the effects of pesticides on products and identifying the type of the
pesticide and its dangers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation launched a
specialized
central laboratory in Sana'a.
The laboratory will help the ministry identify the traces of pesticides in crops
as it is considered one of the modern and accurate means in controlling the
pesticides.
According to Al-Sayani, the General Directorate for Plant Protection has started
evaluating pesticides existing in the country after operating the laboratory.
In field of eliminating empty bottles of pesticides, the report revealed that great
numbers have been covered in save way.
According to Al-Sayani, Yemen imports nearly 360 tons of legal pesticides formally
every year and this figure reduced from 500 tons in 2006. He said Yemen is still
among
the countries which imports limited quantities of pesticides for agricultural
production. He argued that to improve the production, the country still needs
between 1500-2000
tons every year.
Two years ago, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation circulated a list banning
importing 349 types of pesticides to Yemen. The list angered pesticides merchants
who
described it as abusive measure against their trade.
They directed a message to the president of the republic to interfere in the case
and direct the ministry of agriculture to allow them import these types of
pesticides they
described as of economic profit and did not contain toxics.
However, media reports say that there are 373 types of prohibited pesticides in
Yemen and there are 700 kinds of chemicals, toxic items and pesticides used in
agriculture
and namely for quick production of qat.
According to estimations of officials in the Ministry of Agriculture and
Irrigation, 80 percent of pesticides go for qat production.
Specialized doctors say these chemicals were of the main reasons behind spreading
cancer in Yemen.
