LETTER | The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) calls on the Pesticides Board to immediately crack down on the sale of illegal pesticides.

Recently two young boys lost their lives from eating keropok (crackers) laced with illegal rat poison from China.

According to the investigating team from the Health Ministry, they found a packet of rat poison believed to have been placed in a packet of crackers eaten by the two brothers.

The team found an opened empty packet of poison which had Chinese writing on it around the scene of the incident.

CAP surveys over the years have shown that illegal pesticides are openly sold at markets in Penang and Baling, Kedah.

These pesticides, mostly from China, do not disclose the active chemicals present on the label. They also lack adequate descriptions or instructions for handling, use, or storage – a violation of the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management and Pesticides Act 1974.

Illegal pesticides sold domestically are distributed from northern states such as Kedah, Penang, and Kelantan, or imported from countries like Vietnam, China, and Thailand, despite being banned in some of these origin countries.

In another survey conducted a few years ago in Kerpan, Sanglang, Pendang and Sik in Kedah, we found endosulfan, a banned pesticide to be easily available.

Endosulfan is banned in more than 60 countries. Due to its high toxicity and high potential for bioaccumulation and environmental contamination, a global ban on the use and manufacture of endosulfan is being considered under the Stockholm Convention.

The pesticide can be bought from shops selling agricultural chemicals. Even though it is not displayed in the shops, it is available upon request. A litre of the pesticide is sold for RM32.00 in an unlabelled bottle.

Padi farmers in the area openly admit that the prohibited substance is available and is constantly sprayed to rid the farms of pests.

It is generally referred to as “racun Cina” (Chinese poison) as the packaging carries only descriptions in Chinese characters.

Highly toxic threat

Malaysia’s e-commerce market, and online shopping platforms have also become a growing avenue for the sale of pesticide products according to the Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (Panap).

Panap’s 2023 report titled “Unboxed: Online Sales of Banned Pesticides in Malaysia” details how regulatory loopholes have allowed for the sale of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs).

Panap’s investigation has revealed that the three banned HHPs (paraquat, endosulfan, and profenophos) in Malaysia are openly sold on e-commerce platforms.

According to the report, paraquat, endosulfan, and profenophos are among the 48 banned or restricted pesticides in Malaysia due to their wide-ranging negative impacts on human health and the environment.

These pesticides are known to cause cancer, developmental disorders, diseases, and are linked to many cases of fatalities. In addition, these substances persist in the environment and are highly toxic to animals and other organisms.

While national laws and international conventions exist to regulate pesticides, enforcement of these regulations remains inadequate.

Manufacturers, traders, and other opportunists continue to circumvent the law by utilising unlicensed traders and e-commerce platforms to market banned pesticides, posing significant risks to human health and the environment.

Solutions

In view of the above, CAP calls on the Pesticide Board to:

• Crack down on the sale of illegal pesticides in the country;

• Strictly enforce the Pesticide Act 1974;

• Educate farmers on the health and environmental effects of pesticides;

• Provide safer means to eliminate pests such as the rearing of ducks in padi fields.

Agroecology – or farming which replaces toxic chemicals with practices that are in harmony with nature - should be recognised, prioritised, and supported as “good agricultural practice”.

Agroecology has been shown to result in agricultural produce that is safer, not just for local consumers and export markets, but also for farmers and their children who have the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

MOHIDEEN ABDUL KADER is president of the Consumers Association of Penang.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.