Pesticide is one of the major inputs in modern
agriculture and its uses are increasing annually. Pesticides are seen as
inherently benign, in the same way that medicines are. Many local languages
even use the same word for “pesticide” and “medicine”. Along with the increasing consumption of
pesticides, Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), which are more toxic are still
in widespread use in Asia and constitute a substantial challenge to human
health and the environment especially in low-
and middle-income countries with less resources, training and capacities
to deal with them. Reducing the risks posed by HHPs has become a priority in
various international chemicals management
policies, and many countries have started taking action accordingly. The objective of the paper is to establish the
national status of the use of HHPs in Asia in line with FAO/WHO criteria
for HHPs and encourage deliberate
consideration of mitigation options for effective management of HHPs.
This report is based on the nationally registered pesticide active ingredients
and other related information obtained from Pesticide Registration Authorities
of 13 Asian countries and research reports of different national and
international journals. There are currently about 3557 pesticide products
(active ingredients) registered in 13 Asian countries to control pests on crops
and for public health uses, and 214 HHPs among the list of registered
pesticides still in use in these Asian countries. An analysis of the list of
registered formulated products revealed that 61 different active ingredients
are included in these 214 registered HHPs in Asian countries. Considering the
global concern of HHPs, there is thus every
reason to develop mass awareness raising programmes based on knowledge, aptitude and practices and to disseminate them within the community in order to inform about the risks of HHPs and to
replace HHPs and mitigate human risk and exposure to HHPs. It is concluded that
detailed surveys
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