A harmful farming pesticide (Carbosulfan) has been listed under Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention at the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) COPs last week.
Professor Michael Eddleston, Director of the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention, said: “This is quite fabulous news and a very significant step in reducing pesticide-related harm globally and saving people’s lives.
“Carbosulfan is a fast-acting toxic carbamate insecticide responsible for many deaths worldwide.
“Patients become ill before they get to hospital; treatment is then available too late to save the lives of many individuals.
“Listing it under the Rotterdam Convention means countries will now be warned before it is exported to them.
“Furthermore, it is now globally recognised as a Highly Hazardous Pesticide.
“Listing will help restrict its use, give governments more control over pesticide imports, and encourage farmers to move to using safer alternatives.”
What is Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention?
Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention is a list of dangerous pesticides and industrial chemicals that have been severely restricted or banned for health and environmental reasons.
Countries on the list must ask permission before selling or sending these chemicals to other countries.
By being listed, it helps protect people and the environment from harmful substances.
Carbosulfan was first recommended for listing at BRS COPs in 2015 and has been discussed at some eight consecutive conventions without consensus agreement until now.
Who supported the listing of Carbosulfan?
The listing of Carbosulfan was supported by the following countries: Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Uruguay, the European Union, Switzerland, the UK, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Iran, Senegal, New Zealand, Norway, Serbia, Chile, Venezuela, and Liberia.
What was Sri Lanka’s role in getting this pesticide listed?
The Sri Lankan government led on the briefing and provided evidence to the parties at the convention on the harms of carbosulfan use.
On pesticide management, Sri Lanka’s achievements have been globally recognised.
Since enacting the Control of Pesticides Act in 1980, the country has banned or restricted 55 pesticides, including all those listed under the Conventions.
These measures led to a 70 per cent reduction in suicide rates, saving over 93,000 lives from 1995 to 2015 without affecting agricultural productivity.
This earned Sri Lanka the Global Future Policy Award in 2021.
Looking ahead, Sri Lanka plans to stop all serious pesticide harm by 2035.
A new plan (2025–2030) will follow global safety targets on Highly Hazardous Pesticides to support safer farming and protect nature.
Read the full statement delivered by Sri Lanka at the BRS COPs here.
Why is Carbosulfan dangerous?
Carbosulfan is a pesticide widely used by farmers.
Although it is less toxic than some previously banned pesticides, it still poses a significant health risk after ingestion, with a higher proportion of poisoned people dying than chlorpyrifos, for example.
The pesticide affects the nervous system and can also cause headaches and dizziness in smaller exposures; larger exposures cause breathing problems that may result in respiratory arrest.
It is also harmful to fishes, birds and bees and harms the ecosystem.