The International Code of Conduct as a Global Tool for Pesticide Quality Management

摘要

The International Code of Conduct is a universally recognized and respected documentthat is offered by the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO)and the World Health Organization( WHO) of the United Nations as a guidance vehicle for all stakeholders on issuesrelating to risk reduction in global agriculture and public health. While the Code recites important principles for all to follow in virtually every aspect of agricultural practice,it is particularly useful to ensure that the products that are employed to control weeds, plant diseases and insects are of high quality and that they meet the rigorous safety requirements demandedby governments,agricultural workers,and consumers. In this respect,the Code promotes thehigh standards that ensure the maintenance of good environmental concepts, economicmanageability,and overall sustainability of good agricultural practices around the world. TheCode is an international reference for all participants in global agriculture and is a principleddocument that is embodied with significant moral authority; consequently, most governments, companies and other stakeholders tend to observe the tenets of the Code,in order toexhibit characteristics of good citizens of the world agricultural community. Indeed, mostcompanies and global and regional trade associations of multinational companies and genericcompanies alike have affirmed publicly that they will conduct their affairs in accordance withthe principles of the Code. This lecture will cover the points in the Code of Conduct that havebeen established to manage the maintenance of good pesticide product quality,including theuse of specifications to set benchmarks for acceptable product quality and safety characteristics for all to observe. In particular,there will be emphasis on international initiatives to prevent the entrance into commerce of illegal counterfeit pesticideproducts, as well as thoseproducts of poor quality that may have potentially dangerous characteristics.