ACT joins chemical ban bandwagon

NHSC called to state reason after voting

The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) yesterday piled pressure on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to get him to advocate for a ban on three toxic farming chemicals, and urge the National Hazardous Substances Committee (NHSC) to explain its decision in next week’s crucial meeting.

In an open letter released yesterday, the ACT called on Thais to keep an eye on the prime minister, even though only the NHSC — not the premier — has the sole authority to ban use of the toxic chemicals.

“Society should follow how our prime minister acts in this case. Will PM Prayut show some responsibility and protect the health and safety of Thais? Or he will just pass the buck onto the NHSC?” the letter said.

ACT is the latest organisation to join calls for an immediate ban on the use of three toxic farming chemicals that have been banned by many countries across the globe — paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos.

Paraquat has been banned in over 50 countries, including China and Vietnam.

The chemicals, which are widely used by farmers across Thailand, have been found by the World Health Organisation to be carcinogenic, and frequent exposure to the chemicals may have cross-generational effects, critics say.

A study by Mahidol University found paraquat can be transferred from a pregnant mother to the baby in her womb.

Consumer groups have campaigned for the ban for several years.

In 2017, a committee appointed by the former junta government recommended the ban of three chemicals.

The Public Health Ministry and the Office of the Ombudsman advocated the ban, as did several heavyweight cabinet members, including deputy prime minister and public health minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

ACT also demanded the NHSC open its deliberation and voting results to the public, complete with the votes and reasons given by all 29 members of the NHSC.

In the past, NHSC has restricted access to its meetings, and only the results of votes are made public — not the names and the reasons.

NHSC is expected to meet on October 22 to discuss again whether it will slap bans on the use of the three chemicals.

In May last year, the committee decide to only restrict their use, instead of banning their use completely.