Pesticides more harmful than thought

Not just on the honeybees, chemicals in pesticides have severe effect on other pollinators and natural pest controllers such as parasitic wasps, ladybugs, earthworms and many more

Dead bees displayed during a demonstration of Bulgarian beekeepers against the usage of neonicotinoid pesticides.

An European scientific body said Wednesday that a group of pesticides believed to contribute to mass deaths of honeybees is probably more damaging to ecosystems than previously thought and questioned whether the substances had a place in sustainable agriculture.
The European Commission in 2013 banned the use of three neonicotinoids clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam on flowering plants after a separate body, the European Food Safety Authority, found that exposure to the chemicals created high acute risks to bees.
But the chemicals continue to be employed on an industrial scale. A growing body of evidence shows that the widespread use of the pesticides has severe effects on a range of organisms that provide ecosystem services like pollination and natural pest control, as well as on biodiversity, the reports authors said.
Predatory insects like parasitic wasps and ladybugs provide billions of dollars worth of insect control, they noted, and organisms like earthworms contribute billions more through improved soil productivity. All are harmed by the pesticides.
Irreversible impact
Pollination typically by wind, bug or bird is essential to the global food supply. An estimated 75 percent of all traded crops, including apples, soybeans and corn, depend on pollination.
Neonicotinoids are absorbed by a plant so that the neurotoxic poison spreads throughout its tissues, including the sap, nectar and pollen. Far more deadly to insects than to mammals, they do not discriminate between harmful pests and beneficial pollinators.
But the pesticides are also among the most effective insecticides available to farmers. Proponents argue that they are essential to food security, and note that many of the chemicals they replaced were worse in important respects.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Artifical ripening now a criminal offence

Calcium carbide generally ripens fruit within 2.5 days, gives it appealing hue

FDA makes strict IPC Section 328 with a poisoning charge applicable against traders using calcium carbide to get fruits market ready; no bail for offenders.

Taking into consideration the slew of unpredictable weather situations over the last few months, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) is stealing a march on traders likely to artificially ripen fruits using calcium carbide to keep up with market demand. While this practice is already banned, the authority has observed instances of culprits wriggling out of legal proceedings by obtaining bail, and in a stringent move, has henceforth denoted any such attempt as an offence under Section 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Orders were issued in this regard on Monday to all state FDA units, to follow with immediate effect. A diktat was also issued by the state to implement this new addition in the concerned law immediately.

Now, the use of calcium carbide or any such chemical to artificially ripen fruit will be considered a crime — an attempt to destroy the life or impair the health of others by using poison. With this IPC section applied, offenders will be unable to obtain bail from the court after arrest. If guilt is proved by the prosecution in a special court, the accused may face rigorous imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Several traders were found to be using the chemical to ripen fruit like mangoes, bananas and papayas in a neat 2.5 days, so that they can be made available in the market before season starts, to avail of additional profit. The chemical also lends fruits an appealing hue for better marketability.

As per the law, using calcium carbide to artificially ripen any fruit is banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, and the Regulations (FSSR), 2011.

Joint commissioner (food) of the FDA's Pune division, Shashikant Kekre, told Mirror, "This year, despite the lack of yield, no cases have been discovered yet, perhaps out of fear of punishment. However, we have decided to make the law more stringent. Many cases are expected to arise with the arrival of the new stock of mangoes in the market."

He added, "Last year, we filed over 100 such cases. Now, it will be a nonbailable offence with IPC Section 328 to be applied in each case. The same section is also applied when other hazardous chemicals are used, like magnesium carbide in banned food items like gutkha, mava or scented tobacco. We have also started imposing a fine of up to Rs 3.5 lakh, which has proved to be a good disincentive."

According to an FDA official, who chose to remain anonymous, consuming such chemically ripened fruits may lead to headaches, dizziness, cancer and heart diseases. "We have suggested to traders that they use ethylene gas centres for this ripening for several kinds of fruits," he said. Another officer from the Mumbai FDA said, "The use of the new section started after a meeting between senior FDA officers, police and traders in February this year. A toll-free number, 1800222365, has also been activated in this matter, to connect all FDA units of the state."

A wholesale mango trader from Gultekdi, Hiraman Raoji Kale, told Mirror, "This is a welcome move aimed at controlling illegal activities. Chemical ripeners are used to earn extra profit with no regard for the lives of those who will consume the fruit. Use of this stringent IPC section is bound to reduce use of chemicals."

Ban on artificially ripened mangoes

The Commissioner of Food Safety has issued orders prohibiting the sale of mangoes which have been artificially ripened using calcium carbide across the State.

The ban is applicable to the sale, stocking, and exhibition of mangoes ripened using calcium carbide as well as the importing of such mangoes from neighbouring States.

The ban orders were issued invoking Food Safety and Standards Regulation 2.3.5 and FSSA Section 30.

The State police, Sales Tax, and Motor Vehicles departments have been given strict instructions to examine vehicles bringing mangoes from across the border to ensure that these are not being ripened using calcium carbide.

The public may call the toll-free number 1800 425 1125 if they find artificially ripened mangoes in the market.