Dangerous Pesticides
KIMO has a long-term commitment to eliminating pesticide inputs into the marine environment . Synthetic chemical pesticides have been in use for nearly half a century in the control of agricultural, public health and structural pests and diseases. Pesticides are the only group of chemicals which are designed to be toxic to living organisms and are intentionally dispersed in the environment.
Although awareness of the potential hazards has existed since the early 1960’s, and much has been done to control the trade and use of pesticides, their use has not diminished. Moreover, while some of the health and environmental problems associated with pesticides have been addressed in the developed world, many of these serious problems continue to plague the people and the environments of the developing world. Previously unknown problems are also emerging such as the endocrine disrupting properties of many pesticides which mimic hormones.
Pesticide use in Europe continues to be among the most intensive in the world. Efforts by international development agencies including the European Commission and the national agencies of European and North Sea States are frequently targeted at reducing pesticide use in agricultural projects which they support in developing countries. However, little effort is targeted at reducing pesticide use in European agriculture.
In recognition of the need to reduce and ultimately eliminate the hazards to health and to the environment from pesticides:
1. KIMO members will review their own use of pesticides and adopt policies aimed at reducing pesticide use and the hazards associated with their use.
2. Calls upon signatories to the PARCOM Convention to increase efforts to meet the targets set for the reduction in outputs of pesticides into the marine environment.
3. Calls upon Northern Sea States and the European Commission to adopt strategies aimed at reducing pesticide use in agriculture by the implementation of polices expanding the support of low input agricultural production systems.
Having regard that the possibility that environmental chemicals are entering the marine environment and that insufficient information is known regarding the effects that these chemicals have on animal and human health;
1. Support the efforts of the OSLO and PARIS COMMISSION (OSPAR) to develop a strategy to implement the decision of Ministers at Esbjerg in June 1995 “ to reduce discharges, emissions and losses of hazardous substances thereby moving towards the target of their cessation within one generation (25 years) with the ultimate aim of concentrations in the environment near background levels for naturally occurring substances and close to zero concentrations for man made substances”.
2. Call on all Governments within the OSPAR Convention to AGREE to urgently further develop effective instruments or mechanisms for achieving this objective and adopt a strategy to implement this objective and that this strategy should provide the framework for the work with regard to hazardous substances to be carried out by the OSPAR Commission.
