Stringent rules to control pesticide imports amidst smuggling

Stringent regulations are to be enforced to control pesticide and agrochemical imports to stop, among other issues, smuggling, at a time when there is a foreign exchange scarcity in the country, official sources disclosed.

The government restricted the imports of chemical fertilisers and agrochemicals (insecticides and herbicides) on May 6, 2021, in accordance with Section 20 and Sub-Section 4(1) and Section 14 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act.

Since then there has been a severe shortage of pesticides and herbicides creating a black market for such agrochemicals and smuggling of these banned items became the order of the day with farmers buying it at high prices.

Registrar of Pesticide Dr. G. A. Sumith directed relevant authorities on September 24 to crack down on illicit trade of pesticide and herbicides in the local market and these raids are now underway against products being brought into the country through the sea route.

According to the notice issued by Dr. Sumith under the Regulations of Pesticides Control Act, all authorised officers, prosecuting officers and litigation officers have been directed to search and prosecute those selling only nine types of illegal agrochemicals out of 200 active ingredients under 570 trade names.

Thereby, all other restricted agrochemicals have been given an open unofficial license for sale in accordance with this latest directive, National Organiser of the All Ceylon Far mers' Federation Namal Karunaratne told the Business Times

Even the highly toxic agrochemical brands which were banned in Sri Lanka some time ago are being smuggled in unlimited quantities. They are packaged under various names and are currently being sold in the market, he said.

The government’s initiative of going for organic fertiliser and toxic free food crop cultivation in the Maha season will become a meaningless exercise if this practice is allowed by giving a free hand to importers to bring down almost all types of pesticides and herbicides except nine types of agrochemicals, he said.

Farmers now depend on the black market to buy agrochemicals paying Rs. 12,000 for a packet or bottle of pesticide or herbicide priced at Rs.6000 previously, he revealed.