PAN International Website

From global initiatives to local action

The problem
Pesticides create global problems. They cross national boundaries through wind and air currents, and persistent pesticides carry hazards beyond the areas of application. There is global concern too at the health and environmental problems related to pesticide use in developing countries, where conditions often lead to hazardous practices. Safe Pesticide trade is international and safeguards need to be in place to ensure that responsible measures accompany the distribution and use of products. International action has been initiated, but at a local level, the problems are continuing.

The goal
The goals of this project are to help international initiatives make an impact at the local level, by developing projects in partnership with local NGOs, and by promoting resources to regulators and others in developing countries working to implement international initiatives.

Activities
PAN UK is active in international initiatives where these will make a difference. As an NGO, we play a part in negotiating meetings and expert group meetings, and actively contribute to workshops, conferences and dialogues set up by governments, inter-governmental and international bodies concerned with chemical problems in developing countries. Based on our experience, we provide a public interest voice and perspective. Through partnerships, we bring field level and policy research to encourage far-sighted reforms that address local experiences.

NEW! Pesticides and Poverty

PAN UK received almost 3 million euros from the European Union in 2005 to carry out a coordinated series of activities aiming at implementing the chemical conventions (see items below). This project will build directly on PAN UK experience in linking global initiatives to local action, as activities are aimed at regulators, farmers and civil society in 2 African countries, with additional activities in a further 4 countries. 

Please visit the dedicated page for more information. Pesticides and Poverty Index. 

Among our current activities we:

Participate in implementing the PIC Convention … 

  • We are working with PAN Africa to identify the pesticides causing health and environmental problems in cotton-growing systems in West Africa. Some of these pesticides have had disastrous consequences on the health of farmers and their environment, and could be considered for inclusion in the Convention as ‘severely hazardous pesticide formulations’. This initiative would help warn governments of pesticides that are too risky to use in poor conditions, even though they may not be banned. African partners are collecting data, and their work will act as a pilot programme, helping to guide the Convention.

Poor conditions of use

Our partner in Benin, OBEPAB, estimates that at least 70 people died from pesticide poisoning, mainly from endosulfan, in the 1999-2000 cotton season – though official sources record 37 deaths. Others suffered serious ill-health. In 2000-01, 24 deaths have been investigated by OBEPAB. Those affected were mainly children and young men. In addition to the personal tragedy, these deaths represent a cost never calculated in the price of pesticides.

PAN Africa investigated 16 deaths in the Kolda region of Senegal in the 2000 season, likely to be attributable to pesticide exposure. All the farmers had been in contact with a pesticide formulation consisting of carbofuran, thiram and benomyl which they used on groundnuts. Fourteen of the 16 were men, but the tragedy affects whole families. All died within three days of exposure, and presented the same clinical symptoms. A government report is expected.

Promote a robust ‘Pesticide Code’

  • The International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides was agreed in 1985 by governments meeting at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The Code sets standards for governments and industries in the regulation, marketing and use of pesticides, and invites NGOs to monitor its implementation. The Code is being revised in the light of experience.  PAN UK has made strong representation for stronger provisions. We participate in the expert group meetings, and provide evidence to back up a case for committing resources to higher standards and the capacity to make eliminate the dangerous practices in pesticide application in developing countries.

  • Working with other PAN groups, we monitor aspects of the Code, and point out the gaps between promise and practice.  We aim to provide an annual ‘scorecard’ of implementation of the Code.

Take action on the Stockholm Convention

  • Many PAN groups have been involved in advocacy for strong action against Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), and the Stockholm Convention on POPs was signed in May 2001. NGOs strongly support the outcome, as governments pledged to take a precautionary approach, and eliminate the production and use of most POPs pesticides, with a phase out plan for others.  Like other PAN groups, PAN UK  is a member of the International POPs Elimination Network, linking over 350 NGOs.  Our focus has been on the urgent need to dispose of stockpiles of the POPs and other pesticides, which are found in appalling conditions across Africa, Asia and Latin America. In addition to joining IPEN’s actions, our work has developed into a new project: Prevention and disposal of obsolete pesticides.

Build capacity through international networking on chemicals

  • After the 1992 Earth Summit, governments established an Inter-Governmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) which is working to implement the pledges made in Agenda 21 on hazardous chemicals in trade.  PAN UK takes a keen interest in these activities. By participating in the Forum, we have been able to bring new issues onto the international agenda – for example increasing the pledge to act on extremely and highly hazardous pesticides used in developing countries. 

  • We contribute our expertise to training meetings held for government regulators from developing countries. We supply regular information to help those working for change, particularly through providing complimentary subscriptions of Pesticides News and Current Research Monitor, and other research and information. The IFCS has now decided to set up an ‘Informal capacity-building network for the sound management of chemicals’, and PAN UK will continue to contribute to the network.

Support sustainable agriculture solutions

  • Many international initiatives have been established to consider the meaning of ‘sustainable agriculture’. Agenda 21 put ‘Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development’ on the global map.  Our work on sustainable alternatives to pesticides is multi-faceted, ranging from support for organic cotton projects in Africa to policy work with the European Commission.  We are active participants in the UK Food Group, promoting sustainable agriculture for food security and sustainable livelihoods.  We use our practical and policy experience to raise awareness and provide information of the benefits of IPM training taking a Farmer Field School approach, on organic agriculture, and on other agro-ecological approaches that work in a participatory way with women and men farmers.

Resources
Our journal, Pesticides News, carries regular articles on the problems of pesticides in developing countries. Many of these are available on the web, and subscriptions can be purchased on line (also see our publications list).

At the initiative of the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate (KEMI), government regulators in Tanzania and Vietnam, pesticide scientists in Costa Rica, PAN UK and the International Union of Food and Agricultural Workers wrote a briefing on actions to improve pesticide regulation in developing countries. Multistakeholder Collaboration for Reduced Exposure to Pesticides in Developing Countries, with Particular Reference to Costa Rica, Tanzania and Vietnam provides background on pesticide problems, detailed information on the laws and institutions addressing pesticide regulation in Costa Rica, Tanzania and Vietnam, and how scientists, academics, NGOs, trade unions and other stakeholders can be involved in change. The partners held a meeting in Sweden in May 2001, discussing how to take forward the recommendations and increase support for the urgent need to introduce pesticide reduction strategies: see report First Wittulsberg Symposium on Pesticide Reduction in Developing Countries, 7 – 11 May 2001.

Our NGO guide to the Rotterdam Convention, PIC – a tool for change, sets out how the Convention works, strengths and shortcomings, and recommendations for how it can help to make a difference. See also Steady Progress on PIC – the early warning system on hazardous pesticides published in October 2002.

Useful links

For more information about this project contact 
Barbara Dinham, Programme Director at PAN UK
[First published online in June 2001, reviewed in April 2005]