Obsolete Pesticide Stocks

Schimpf, W.A. Obsolete pesticide stocks in developing countries. In Chemistry of Crop Protection. Progress and Prospects in Science and Regulation (eds G. Voss G. Ramos). Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2003, pp. 40-53. 

Obsolete Pesticide Stocks in Developing Countries Strategies, Policies, and Practical Steps for Their Disposal... 

Studies conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations show that there are around 100 000 tonnes of obsolete pesticide stocks in developing countries. Africa alone probably accounts for up to 48 000 tonnes. Obsolete pesticides cannot only be found in developing countries in Africa, the Near East, Asia and Latin America, they are also an environmental problem in many Central and Eastern European countries. The main hazard, however, is the acute toxicity of these pesticides. They present an acute and potential risk both for the community and the environment. These obsolete pesticides are not only a barrier to sustainable development in emerging countries, they arc also a hazard for the global environment. The countries concerned are not in a position to solve the problems on their own. They have neither die technical expertise, the facilities nor the necessary financial means. For this reason, it is essential that the OECD countries provide support. 

To address this situation, the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH launched a pilot project in 1990 geared to the disposal of obsolete pesticides. Since then, environmentally sound disposal operations have evolved into a range of activities within the field of technical co-operation. The GTZ project disposed of more than 1800 tonnes of obsolete pesticide stocks in 8 developing countries in Africa and Asia. It also carried out several large-scale analytical surveys and prevention measures. 

Directive 259/93 of the European Union It regulates the inport of hazardous waste back to the country of origin, mostly OECD countries. This was actually an instrument to prevent waste tourism , but it is also the most important tool and the legal basis for the re-import of the obsolete pesticide stocks back to Europe... 

During the First African Conference on Obsolete Pesticides Stocks in Rabat in January 2001, all African countries demanded in the Rabat Declaration directed to the OECD countries the urgent removal of the obsolete stockpiles in Africa. 

The problem of obsolete pesticide stocks in developing countries became serious at the beginning of the 90s because of the risks for human health and the environment. After a decade with a number of individual disposal operations organised and financed by national aid organisations, the international community has put this issue on their agenda, aiming to solve the problem through a number of international conventions and activities, e.g. ... 

FAO Pesticide Disposal Series 2 Prevention of accumulation of obsolete pesticide stocks . Provisional Guidelines, Rome, 1995. 

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. (2001). Baseline study on the problem of obsolete pesticide stocks. FAO Pesticide Disposal Series 9. Retrieved March 11, 2007 from http // www.fao.org/docrep/003/X8639E/X8639e00.htm... 

Nowadays the soil pollution with persistent organochlorine compounds in Bulgaria is mostly because of their use in the past, result of local environmental accidents, associated with improper storage or illegal use of obsolete pesticide stocks. 

FAO Press releases FAO Problem of obsolete pesticide stocks deserves greater attention by donor countries and industry 98/15 Dangerous pesticide stocks removed from Zambia and the Seychelles — large stocks continue to threaten health and environment, FAO says 97/31 and FAO says huge stocks of obsolete pesticides threaten environment and public health in developing countries FAO/3634, 5 June 1996... 

Table 10. FAO preliminary irwerAory of obsolete pesticide stocks requiring disposal.

The previous examples are no exceptions. There are similar situations in nearly all developing countries [3]. No type or chemical group of pesticides is excluded from obsolete pesticide stockpiles. Some stocks have been accumulated over a period of 50 years new products are being added to the stockpiles continuously. The key factors [4] that contribute to the accumulation of obsolete stockpiles in developing countries are these ... 

Obsolete pesticides and associated waste are classed as hazardous waste. Extensive training and sophisticated equipment are needed to deal with obsolete pesticides safely and appropriately. In industrialised countries entire facilities are available for the removal, transport and environmentally sound disposal of hazardous waste. In developing countries there is little expertise and no appropriate facilities for the management of hazardous waste. The problem becomes more difficult as a consequence of inadequate infrastructure, the wide dispersion of obsolete stocks and their deteriorated condition. The options available for the management or environmentally sound destruction of obsolete pesticides are extremely limited. 

FAO, Inventory of obsolete and unwanted and/or banned pesticide stocks in Africa and the Near East, 003/1999. 

In May 1992, the total pesticide stocks (current and obsolete) in Ethiopia amounted to nearly 5400 tonnes including 652 tonnes of Dirty Dozen pesticides, mainly DDT, lindane, heptachlor, aldrin, chlordane and paraquat. 

Obsolete stocks of pesticides are estimated at more than 90 tonnes, including approximately 60 tonnes of DDT. The country lacks appropriate disposal facilities and thus obsolete pesticides have either been dumped indiscriminately or stored indefinitely. 

Countries should establish relevant action plans with respect to identification, neutralisation and safe disposal of obsolete stocks of pesticides and other chemicals. 

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