The parliament, on Wednesday, passed a bill on setting standards for the import, use, production, export and proper disposal of pesticides.
Submitted by Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyaz, the bill was passed with a majority of 72 votes following amendments by the parliament's Environment and Climate Change Committee.
The changes include prohibiting the advertisement of pesticides in the country, and tasking the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture with designating pesticides which are allowed for production, usage, sale, import and export in Maldives as well as reviewing the list of permitted pesticides.
Importing and distributing pesticides without a licence can result in fines between MVR 5,000 and MVR 100,000. Repackaging and exporting such substances are also punishable under the same terms.
Additional acts criminalized as per the bill include using a type of pesticide which has not received government approval, and storing pesticides in residences, areas in which animals are reared or locations where food is produced. The aforementioned actions can incur fines between MVR 15,000 and MVR 60,000. The same amount can be fined for selling pesticides without labels and storing such substances in a manner that harms humans or animals.
The bill is intended to prevent negative impacts on the environment and public health, implement measures against pesticide misuse, and compile regulations concerning pesticide use.
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