Tue, Nov 26, 2019 – three:53 PM
[BANGKOK] About 2,000 demonstrators marched to Thailand’s Authorities Home on Tuesday to demand a delay in a ban due from Dec 1 on three pesticides, as a dispute over the plan escalates.
The protesters submitted a letter to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha asking for time to evaluate scientific proof, the financial impression and whether or not options can be found. Outlawing the chemical substances will damage Thai farmers’ competitiveness and imperil tens of millions of jobs, in accordance with the letter.
Thailand plans to ban three pesticides — paraquat, chlorpyrifos and glyphosate — over well being dangers below a push by a celebration within the sprawling coalition authorities. The transfer in opposition to glyphosate, generally bought as weedkiller Roundup, has sparked resistance from the US, which has additionally requested Mr Prayuth to delay to think about scientific proof.
The occasion spearheading the ban, Bhum Jai Thai, controls the well being and transport ministries. It is one in all greater than a dozen within the coalition, which has a razor-thin majority in parliament.
Requested by reporters whether or not any slip within the Dec 1 deadline would have political ramifications as a result of Bhum Jai Thai ministers might stop, Well being Minister Anutin Charnvirakul mentioned he has to place issues about well being first.
‘No Compromise’
“We’ve to take heed to all events and assess what we are able to do to create much less dispute,” Bhum Jai Thai chief Mr Anutin mentioned. “However I am liable for the Ministry of Well being, and there may be no compromise on any coverage that is harmful for well being.”
Police on the bottom gave tough estimates of the dimensions of the gang. The demonstration was organized by the Thai Agricultural Innovation Commerce Affiliation, the Thai Agro-Enterprise Affiliation and the Thai Crop Safety Affiliation.
Final week, Singapore-based CropLife Asia, a commerce group representing pesticide companies, requested Mr Prayuth to delay the ban due to the potential disruption to the agriculture sector.
Glyphosate is banned or restricted in a variety of locations, comparable to Vietnam and Austria, and triggered a flurry of lawsuits within the US from folks alleging it causes most cancers.
About 11 million of Thailand’s 69 million individuals are employed in agriculture. The nation is among the many world’s high exporters of rice, rubber and sugar.
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