Global survey of pesticide use reveals widespread harm

摘要

25 years ago the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides was adopted to reduce pesticide risks to human health and the environment. The Code, fully revised in 2002, sets out standards of conduct for governments and the pesticide industry, which have formed the basis for pesticide legislation in many developing countries. A number of international initiatives to combat the hazards of pesticides have followed the adoption of the Code, such as the legally binding Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent. The Convention lists problematic active ingredients and severely hazardous pesticide formulations for information sharing, import and trade controls. More recently, in 2006 the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) stressed shared and multi-stakeholder responsibilities so that by 2020, chemicals are 'used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment.