The European Union confirmed that killing weeds had been banned, and the Council of Agriculture made a comeback in spite of public opposition.

51 sharing

(by upstream and downstream reporters Li Huiyi and Zheng Jieyi / tr. by Robert Taylor)

It has been five months since the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on May 20 that the residual allowance of new herbicide in red bean was 2.0 ppm. Public opinion is one-sided on the government's online communication platform, and 90% of the comments are against only increasing the risk of food safety, while many farmers or farmers' associations that are promoting domestic red bean brands do not want solid weeds to enter the red bean industry.

Although consumers and producers are opposed to using herbicide to harvest red beans, the Council of Agriculture continues to go to the countryside and widely distribute questionnaires to do surveys. On the one hand, subsidies are widely distributed for environmentally friendly drying methods, and at the same time, farmers are strongly publicized that herbicide is safe and effective. In addition, the Bureau of Prevention and Inspection and the Institute of drugs and drugs have also avoided the concerns of reproductive toxicity raised by the European Union, regardless of the huge impact on the future purchase price of red beans once the herbicide is opened.

The "upstream and downstream" revealed many times a few days ago that the European Union has banned the killing of grass, but the Prevention and Inspection Bureau said that the fixed killing of grass is only "Not Approved" in the EU, not banned (Ban). The "upstream and downstream" reporters once again sought confirmation from the European Commission, and the press officer made it clear that "not approved (Not Approved) is tantamount to banning (Ban)", and the reproductive toxicity of herbicide is classified as 1B, even if the application will not be approved.

The Rural Office of the Prevention and Inspection Bureau discussed and sent out a questionnaire, emphasizing the completeness of the review and continuing to strengthen the killing of weeds.

Since October 16, the Council of Agriculture has held a "109 / 110 year Red Bean Plant drying subsidy Program explanation and herbicide risk Communication Symposium" in Wandan Township, Pingding Township, Nanzhou Township, Xinyuan Township, Donggang Town, Pingtung City, as well as Meinong District and Daliao District of Kaohsiung City.

The Council of Agriculture held a forum in Wandan, Pingtung. (photography / Li Huiyi)

At present, the Council of Agriculture has completed four symposiums in Meinong and Wandan. At the meeting, the Prevention and Inspection Bureau repeatedly stressed that the policy of fixing herbicide as a desiccant for red bean plants has gone through a complete review process.

Hong Yutang, head of the Pesticide Management Section of the Plant epidemic Prevention Section of the Bureau of Prevention and Quarantine, said that in 2019, the Institute completed the preliminary examination, and at the beginning of 2020, the Pesticide Technical Consultative Council completed the examination of applied technology, chemical environment and toxicology one after another, and the Food Safety and Nutrition Council of the Ministry of Health and Welfare also examined and approved it. On May 20, the Ministry of Health and Fuzhou announced that the allowable standard of pesticide residues was 2.0 ppm; on July 6, the Prevention and Inspection Bureau held a meeting of scholars and experts to demonstrate the public trust.

At the meeting, the Prevention and Inspection Bureau also widely distributed questionnaires for farmers to fill in, focusing on such topics as "plant drying methods used in the past", "whether they agree to open fixed weeds", "priority of defoliation methods", "whether they know the government's pesticide residue testing", "whether they are willing to cooperate with safe drug use," and so on. Collect farmers' opinions in a comprehensive way.

The public began to speak 418 pieces of public opinion, but the Council of Agriculture could not read it back, and the democratic procedure was only half a set.

Most questionnaires are conducted before major policies are finalized, but the Prevention and Inspection Bureau does the opposite, emphasizing that the vetting process is complete and going to the countryside to collect public opinion at the same time, which makes farmers laugh or cry. Farmer Yan Zhencheng said to Hong Yutang, section chief of the Prevention and Inspection Bureau, "Don't you just have a briefing that says everything has been passed? Since your government has done a lot of things, and you are only here to hold a forum to announce it, why do you still ask for our opinions? "

Hong Yutang Section Chief of Prevention and Inspection Bureau (left) and Red Bean farmer Yan Zaocheng (right) continued to exchange views after the meeting. For farmers, the forum is too slow, and only if it can be held during the review period or before the announcement of the Ministry of Health and Welfare can the agricultural intention be put into practice in the policy. (photography / Li Huiyi)

Zhang Yuling, executive director of the Housewives' Union Environmental Protection Foundation, believes that the Council of Agriculture consulted people from all walks of life through the online platform "public speaking" as early as July 6 to August 4. Within 30 days, the platform has accumulated 418 messages, of which 90% do not approve of open herbicide for red bean harvest. She said: "it has been more than two months since we arrived in early August, and the Council of Agriculture has not yet put forward an analysis and comprehensive response in the 'public lecture'. As a result, we have to do a new questionnaire."

"Public speaking" is a communication platform set up by the National Development Commission, but the Council of Agriculture has been unable to read it back and has only done half a set of democratic procedures, which makes civic groups very disappointed. Zhang Yuling said that if citizens want to leave a message in "public speaking", they need to fill in the basic information first.