Ecobreves – ARGENTINA: Better Classification of Agrochemicals Demanded

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BUENOS AIRES, Jun 13 2011 (IPS) - Social and environmental organizations in Argentina are threatening to hold a street protest if the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries does not respond to calls for more precise classification of the toxicity of agrochemicals. A system is needed that encompasses all of the harmful impacts that chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides used in agriculture can have on human health, differentiating among acute, chronic, lethal and sub-lethal toxicity, as well as information on the laboratories responsible for this classification, the activists stress.

After submitting an official request through the National Ombudsman’s Office, accompanied by a petition with close to 10,000 signatures, the National Environmental Action Network plans to organize a demonstration outside the ministry in mid-June if a satisfactory response is not received, network member Claudio Lowy told Tierramérica.

“As of now we have received a technical response, but we don’t consider this valid. We want a political response from the minister (Julián Domínguez),” said Lowy.