TUESDAY, 04 APRIL 2006:
South Africa signed a R11 million Grant Agreement
with the World Bank as Implementing Agency for
the Global Environment Facility, to finance the
clean up and disposal of obsolete pesticides in
South Africa. This project follows on a previous
successful initiative which resulted in over 1000
tonnes of obsolete pesticides being destroyed.
Speaking about the signing ceremony,
the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism, Rejoice Mabudafhasi said: “This project
will assist us in further ridding South Africa
of obsolete pesticides, and preventing any future
reoccurrence of these problems. The project also
demonstrates Government’s commitment to creating
a safe and healthy environment for this generation
as well as for future generations. Many of the
pesticides which will be destroyed would otherwise
persist in the environment, potentially finding
their way into food products and into the lives
of our people. Through this project we will strengthen
our overall management of chemicals and pesticides
in South Africa”.
The Deputy Minister further
added: “In order to get everyone buying into the
African Stockpiles Programme (ASP) we need to
send a clear message that indicates that a period
of amnesty will prevail while inventory and collection
of old stocks is undertaken. Non-disclosure of
stock will be a missed opportunity for people
who have stockpiles because the ASP will also
look at the legal framework which will ensure
that accumulation of obsolete stockpiles does
not recur. This is a once-off cleanup in South
Africa and it is offered free of charge. We will
then collect these chemicals and dispose of them
in an environmentally sound manner.”
The World Bank’s Country Director
for South Africa said “ I am delighted that South
Africa is so actively supporting this initiative
aimed at removing obsolete pesticides in 6 African
countries. In Africa there is about 50,000 tonnes
of obsolete pesticides which need to be destroyed.
Once again South Africa has demonstrated its commitment
to supporting a project which will benefit the
country as well as the Africa region and the global
environment”.
South Africa is busy mobilising
the agricultural sector, the pesticide industry
and government to identify all obsolete pesticide
stocks in the country. These will be repackaged,
stores will be cleaned and then the repackaged
pesticides will be transported to a central collection
point. International and national standards will
be met to destroy the obsolete pesticides. Once
these have been decided, a sound procurement process
will be undertaken to select the firms to undertake
the destruction process.
The overall, 7 country, ASP
has mobilized approximately $60 million from,
the Global Environment Facility, Canada, Denmark,
European Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization,
Finland, France, Japan, Netherlands and the private
sector, through Croplife International. Other
countries involved in the programme Tunisia, Morocco,
Mali, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria.
The programme is supported by
a number of key partners. These include the Food
and Agriculture Organisation which will provide
technical support to the project, WWF and PAN-UK
to support NGO related activities, Croplife International
and AVCASA representing the private as well as
NEPAD which will play an overall coordination
role.
