Pesticide Registration Board announces prohibition of five weed killers

The Pesticide Registration Board, operated by the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, has announced the prohibition of five weed killers — Atrazine, Fomesafen, S-metolachlor, Terbuthylazine, and Mesotrione — as banned pesticides, with enforcement effective in early 2025.
According to the report, the decision was made at the 41st meeting of the Pesticide Registration Board on 27 December.
Additionally, the report highlights that the toxic ingredients of these five pesticides have a four-month rotational period. This duration can adversely affect crops in the next season, pose health hazards for humans, and contaminate underground water resources.
As a result, import recommendations for these pesticides will only be issued until 1 June 2024, and pesticide distributors must withdraw the products from the market.
Furthermore, the board notifies that registration, import, selling, formulation, and repackaging of these pesticides will not be permitted starting 1 January 2025. Failure to comply with the notice may result in legal actions under the Pesticide Law, which carries a five-year prison sentence, a K1 million fine, or both. Additionally, the banned items will also be confiscated. — TWA/TMT