Entities from the productive sector distributed a manifesto to the members of the Special Committee that discussed the regulation of agricultural pesticides in the Chamber of Deputies. The president of the Parliamentary Front of Agriculture (FPA), Tereza Cristina (DEM-MS), the rapporteur of the proposal (PL 3200/2015), Luiz Nishimori (PR-PR) and the author, Mr Covatti Filho (PP- RS) received the document requesting the modernization of the current legislation.
Scheduled for Wednesday afternoon (25), the session of the Special Committee where the report would be read was rescheduled, due to the beginning of the National Congress agenda.
Present entities, such as the Brazilian Association of Corn Producers (Abramilho), the Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers (Abrapa) and the Brazilian Association of Soybean Producers (Aprosoja Brasil) have launched a campaign to mobilize the members of the committee.
Ms. Tereza Cristina, who is chair of the Special Committee, stressed that the work done by the collegiate benefits the development of the country, while also guaranteeing more security to society. “The current law, which has been in place for almost 30 years with few updates, has not kept pace with the evolution of technologies used in the field, increasingly concerned with the safety of food consumed by society,” said the president.
For the rapporteur, Mr Luiz Nishimori, are innovations that will guarantee the health and safety of the farmer, the rural worker, the consumer and the environment. “Society and the National Congress need to look at the law with the care and attention it requires. It is the duty of this House to ensure the sustainability of national production and the safety of food that comes to the table of citizens, “said the rapporteur.
One of the main problems faced in Brazil, according to the entities, is the slowness of the process for registration of pesticides. The analysis is made by three bodies: Ministry of Agriculture (MPLS), National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance (Anvisa) and Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Renewable Resources (IBAMA).
“Today, the procedure in Brazil can take up to eight years. In other countries, such as Argentina, Australia and the United States, the term is around 2 to 3 years. The updating of Brazilian law will reduce this time, without removing competencies of the registrants, “said Paulo César Amaral, of Abrapa.
The proposal – The Draft Law discussed in the Special Committee, PL 3200/2015 (linked to PL 6299/2002), is authored by Mr Covatti Filho (PP-RS) and deals with the modernization of legislation on use, commercialization of agricultural pesticides in Brazil.
The Special Commission to discuss the regulatory framework for agricultural pesticides was set up in April 2016 under the coordination of Ms. Tereza Cristina. Twelve deliberative meetings, nine public hearings and one seminar were held. The debates were attended by universities, scientists, physicians, representatives of federal and national regulatory bodies and international, society and agricultural entities.
Manifesto – Entitled the Law of Safer Food, the campaign signed by Abramilho, Abrapa and Aprosoja Brasil was born of the need to modernize the legislation on agricultural defenses in the country to bring even more technology to the field. The initiative also aims to clarify the population about the myths and truths about the use of these products in Brazilian crops.
“We have brought to parliamentarians the demand of the productive sector, which lacks more innovative substances to combat pests, diseases and weeds in the fields. Maintaining productivity to meet domestic demand and exports, and still continue to provide safe and affordable food for the population depends on the modernization of the law of pesticides, “said Fabrício Rosa, executive director of Aprosoja Brasil.