Herbicide spraying red bean 06 "solid herbicide toxicity is high and may damage the reputation of native red beans. The farmer called for a stay. Prevention and Inspection Bureau: it has been carefully evaluated."

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(upstream and downstream reporters Li Huiyi, Zheng Jieyi, Cai Jiashan, Lin Yijun)

The Council of Agriculture plans to open up the use of herbicides for the harvesting of fallen leaves of red beans, but not only consumers have rebounded, but the farmers' associations in the largest two producing areas of red beans and the brand of Eagle beans do not support it, thus forming "who on earth is open to?" A dilemma. The Prevention and Inspection Bureau held a press conference yesterday (22) to reiterate that herbicide is safe as a defoliant, while in response to the ban on reproductive poison of herbicides by the European Union, the Bureau appointed pesticide manufacturers to respond, claiming that "herbicide is due to commercial considerations of the company." no license renewal is proposed, not banned by the European Union. "

However, according to the EU meeting held in January 2017, "the herbicidal property is very dangerous and the reproductive toxicity is 1B, which means that it does not comply with the EU regulations on plant protection products introduced in 2009." The Bureau of Prevention and Inspection believes that only high concentrations of herbicides can lead to the risk of reproductive toxicity, but the latest research report points out that as long as low doses can cause embryo damage.

In response to the fact that the Prevention and Inspection Bureau said that "farmers who do not want to be named" have always expressed their needs to the agricultural reform farm, so they have done the experiment of fixing weeds for defoliation of red beans. Zhang Zhilie, director general of Pingtung Wandan Peasant Association, said, "the farmers who do not want to be named express their needs." the agricultural reform farm did the experiment, but our peasant association gave a name and expressed the hope that the government could hold a meeting to find all parties to attend the meeting to solve the problem, but the prevention and inspection bureau was unwilling to respond directly. Is a named peasant association less important than an unnamed individual? "

Naturally deciduous Red Bean Field of "Eagle Bean" (Photo provided / Li Jianhui) EU regulations: no license shall be issued or renewed for pesticides with reproductive toxicity

After the herbicide was put on the market in 1980s, more and more studies have shown the risk of neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. A scientific review released by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) in 2005 has pointed out that herbicide has high reproductive toxicity, "may harm unborn children" and "may pose a risk of conception that is difficult to repair".

In 2009, the European Union passed a new regulation on the management of plant protection products, stipulating that if the reproductive toxicity of pesticides belongs to the high toxicity grade 1A or 1B, approval certificates shall not be issued or renewed. The German Ministry of Agriculture said in 2009 that under the new law, the reproductive toxicity of herbicide belongs to class 1B, exceeding the safety threshold. Sweden, which is responsible for submitting the first draft of the herbicide audit report, also said at the EU meeting in January 2017, "the nature of herbicide is very dangerous, and the reproductive toxicity is 1B, which means it does not comply with the EU regulations on plant protection products introduced in 2009."

The permit for killing grass expired on October 1, 2017, because some farmers failed to make the transition and was extended to July 31, 2018. According to the regulations, the buffer period for EU member states to digest stocks after the license expires must not exceed 18 months, and now it has expired, which is tantamount to banning it. The countries that continue to use are in violation of EU norms.

According to the minutes of the official meeting of the EU Committee on plants, Animals, Food and Feed on January 27, 2017, fixed herbicides were at a press conference with high risk and reproductive toxicity, which did not comply with EU norms, and pesticide manufacturers came forward to fight on their behalf, blurring the fact that the EU explicitly banned it.

However, the ROC Prevention and Inspection Bureau believes that in the world, only the European Union cannot use herbicide, and other countries still use it. Yesterday, the Bureau of Prevention and Inspection unexpectedly invited pesticide manufacturers to a press conference to help explain. Qin Baohua, chairman of the Taiwan Branch of the Association for Sustainable crop Development (CropLife Taiwan) and associate associate of BASF, a major pesticide manufacturer, said, "Grass killing is due to commercial considerations, and the failure to apply for license renewal does not mean that it is banned in the European Union."

However, this statement ignores the fact that herbicide is clearly stated in the official minutes of the EU meeting that "does not comply with the EU regulations on plant protection products introduced in 2009", and even if the pharmaceutical company applies for an update, it will be called back. What is more noteworthy is that the BASF where Qin works is a big manufacturer of solid herbicides, and the products that sell well in Taiwan are called "Basta".

The International Association for Sustainable crop Development (CropLife International), which is a sister to the Taiwan crop Sustainable Development Association, is the world's most important lobbying group for pesticides and GM technologies. Its members include BASF, Bayer, Sygenda, and Monsanto, which was later acquired by Bayer, to promote pesticides and GM crops around the world and lobby government decisions. For example, the European Union is under pressure to relax the auditing standards for GM crops and spend a lot of money in the United States to oppose the marking of GM crops.

When the Taiwan Council of Agriculture planned to open up the new use of fixed herbicides and faced questions related to EU issues at a press conference, the representative of the pesticide manufacturer came forward to explain, highlighting the inadequacy of the functions of the Council of Agriculture. What is even more worrying is that manufacturers do not evade conflicts of interest at all and openly answer questions on behalf of the Council of Agriculture. It is very difficult for people to believe that the decision-making of the Council of Agriculture can be objective and impartial and ensure scientific independence.