Lula Vetoes Part of Brazil’s Disputed Pesticide Bill
On Thursday, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil rejected crucial sections of a contentious law aimed at relaxing regulations on pesticide usage in the country.
As a major player in agriculture, Brazil holds the title of the world’s largest consumer of pesticides, with a significant portion falling under the classification of highly hazardous substances. In November, the Senate passed a law that critics, including environmentalists and human rights activists, have labeled as the “poison package” after two decades of ongoing controversy.
Lula’s Veto on Pesticide Legislation Reforms
Lula opted to veto 14 provisions across a dozen articles of a law aimed at facilitating the approval process for new pesticides and granting increased decision-making authority to the agriculture ministry. The presidency stated that this decision was made “to ensure proper integration between productive needs, healthcare, and environmental balance.”
Despite these vetoes, Greenpeace argued in a statement that they are insufficient to safeguard against some of the law’s most harmful aspects. The environmental NGO expressed concerns that the legislation would lead to an increase in toxic agrochemicals in the food supply and further environmental pollution.
In 2021, Brazil’s agribusiness sector accounted for nearly 720,000 metric tons of pesticides, constituting 20 percent of the global total, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. The pesticide bill, initially introduced in 1999, was revived in 2022 with the support of deputies aligned with agro-business interests, the most influential pressure group in parliament, and backed by former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro.
Controversial Legislation Sparks Concerns Over Pesticide Safety
Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch warned that the legislation would pave the way for the rapid approval of hazardous pesticides, eliminating restrictions on pesticides linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, genetic mutation, or harm to the reproductive system. The current ban now only applies to products deemed to pose an “unacceptable risk” to humans or the environment, a criterion criticized as overly vague by opponents of the bill.
The revised law introduces a risk analysis process, but there is uncertainty about who will conduct it and the specific procedures involved, according to Suely Araujo, the former president of the Brazilian Environmental Protection Agency, as reported by AFP.
Internationally, the legislation has repercussions. The extensive use of pesticides by Brazilian producers provides arguments to those in Europe who oppose a free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur. Maria Laura Canineu, Brazil director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the global implications of Brazil’s position as a leading food producer with lenient regulations on hazardous pesticides.
Read the original article on: Phys Org
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