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Disposal of bulk quantities of obsolete pesticides in developing countries

FAO Pesticide Disposal Series. 1020-4695 No. 4











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    Terminal Evaluation of ''Prevention and Disposal of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Obsolete Pesticides in Eritrea'' Phase II
    GCP/ERI/014/GFF GEF ID: 3987
    2020
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    Pesticides have helped control disease and increase crop production for food security. However poor management of pesticides has shown negative impacts human health and the environment, including death and disability among users. Of particular concern are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) that are highly effective in the control of the insect vectors of malaria and sleeping sickness and locusts. FAO supported by GEF implemented a POPs project in Eritrea to safeguard and dispose existing stocks of obsolete pesticides, as well as working to reduce risk across the pesticide lifecycle at the policy level. The evaluation found that one of project’s main success was the safeguarding and disposal of 364 tons of obsolete pesticides and its contribution to the nationwide adoption of FFS and IPM. In the future, the evaluation recommends that the Project Steering Committee, with the support of FAO should take steps to ensure that reducing the risk from pesticides remains a priority for the government. Project code: GCP/ERI/014/GFF GEF ID: 3987
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    Guidelines for the management of small quantities of unwanted and obsolete pesticides 1999
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    Obsolete, unwanted and banned pesticide stocks continue to pose serious environmental and human health problems in developing countries. In rural areas, pesticide waste tends to build up wherever farming and pest control activities are practised, either intensively or extensively. Urban dwellers, particularly in the tropics, are also affected by the pesticide waste and contaminated containers that often pervade their homes. Many people are unaware of the dangers and health risks of pesticides. Accidents, particularly those involving children, are common and often fatal. There is a lack of guidance for people involved in the management or disposal of small quantities of pesticide-related waste, so hazardous chemicals are often left lying around in both rural and urban areas, municipal dumps and even children’s playgrounds. The reuse of contaminated containers for domestic purposes, which is a common practice in many developing areas, is another major health risk.In 1994, a panel of experts from FAO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) developed a set of guidelines for the disposal of bulk quantities of obsolete pesticides. At the same time, the panel recommended that a second set of guidelines be developed for the disposal of small quantities of unusable pesticide stocks, pesticide-related waste and contaminated containers. Since then, the FAO project on prevention and disposal of obsolete stocks, financed by the Government of the Netherlands, has made this one of its main priorities.These guidelines are the result of the Netherlands’ continued support and commitment, which have made possible the initiation and maintenance of a regional project related to the issues and problems of obsolete pesticide stocks. The guidelines do not set out to provide all the information necessary for management and disposal operations, but strict adherence to the principles that they outline will definitely minimize the further accumulation of unwanted pesticides and the subsequent need for disposal. A revised version may be produced in the future, based on technical developments, newly available information and feedback from readers.

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