Campaign Against Pesticides Highly Dangerous

Reform of the General Law of Health to encourage bioinsumos and establish progressive prohibition of Pesticides Highly Hazardous (PAP)

Photo: Johan Franco

What is it about?

In the senate of the republic is voting on a proposal for the reform of the General Law of Health to encourage bioinsumos and agro-ecological systems and to establish a national program of restriction and progressive prohibition of Pesticides Highly Hazardous (PAP). This reform was presented by the senator from Tlaxcala Ana Lilia Rivera Rivera in the Extraordinary Meeting of the Senate last September 29, 2022. You turn to the Committees of Health and Legislative research Second. 

From Seeds of Life, BC, as part of the National Campaign Without Corn There is No Country (CNSMNHP), we are in favor of the approval of this Reform. As we said in our press release, we are aware that industrial agriculture, which is characterized by the use of machinery, with high volumes of water extracted from the subsoil by means of pumps that require fossil fuels, agrochemicals such as pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides etc) and synthetic fertilizers, as well as by the use of patented seeds, is one of the main causes of the loss of biodiversity, desertification, pollution of soils and water bodies, and the emission of greenhouse gases.

Photo: Frida's Flowers

Recently senadorxs of various political parties, aware of this situation, have been presented in the Senate of the Republic various initiatives that point to the need to ban glyphosate. In the case of the reform initiative to the General Health Law that has received up to the time the institutional support of the ministry of Health, Conacyt, MEXICO, and the Technical Opinion favourable of the office of the Undersecretary for Food self-Sufficiency SADER. To be able to have a specific regulation on bioinsumos, has been a demand for producers who are looking for transitioning to farming systems, agro-ecological, as it would contribute greatly to the transition agro-ecological to reduce the dependence of input substances. Remember that agroecology is not limited to a mere substitution of inputs or agricultural practices but also to the diversification of agricultural systems that allow for greater resilience and social equity, as well as retrieve food and traditional seeds.

It is necessary to point out that what has been claiming in the media of mass communication, in the sense that scarce food, and that it will be impossible to production without the support of these substances, it does not respond to reality. Through the promotion of successful alternatives that have been developed with the support of the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt) and the government programs of technical assistance to ensure food self-sufficiency that has driven the SADER, among other programs, we show that it is possible to the gradual substitution of herbicides toxic. 

Photo: Johan Franco

Opponents of these measures are the big agro-industrial companies in Mexico and abroad, the same that have encouraged monocultures of fatal consequences for the environment and human health, as are oil palm, avocado, soy, fruits such as blackberry and raspberry, or flower ornament, among others, that require large amounts of pesticides and water, and that in no benefit to the daily diet of mexicans. Also, seek to promote maize seed is genetically modified in function of its profits, without regard to contaminate the fields of maize native to the centre of origin. These groups constitute a minority accustomed to big gains at the expense of the environment, health, and biodiversity, which is one of the greatest riches of Mexico.

Agribusiness is not intended to feed the world but to produce industrial inputs, many times to be harmful to our health, and that is the family agriculture that feeds the world, as it produces 70 percent of the food consumed. Is that family farming and medium-scale, which, with techniques agro-ecological farming without pesticides, can help for us to live in the best environmental conditions and health in Mexico and in the world; but above all, the agro-ecology or agriculture regenerative allows to fight climate change by capturing the carbon dioxide back down to the earth, its natural place, enriching it, and helping to cool the planet.

Photo: Jorge Brujett

What are we?

The reform needs to be approved first in these two commissions, and then move on to the full senate and, already approved in this instance, passing by the chamber of deputies and, finally, to be published in the Official Journal of the Federation. The voting these two committees is carried out on the same day and was scheduled for last November 16, but the opposition of the postponed and we are waiting for a new date. All this after I had to reschedule because the senator Rafael Espino not convened the commission over which he presides, Legislative research Second, so that in the absence of a quorum had to be postponed. 

Photo: Luis Uribe

News:

“Without corn, there is no country, calls for the ban of pesticides highly dangerous,” October 11, 2022

“Call for the reform of the General Law of Health to promote the bioinsumos and agro-ecological systems” October 13, 2022

“Disagree senators Brunette prohibition of glyphosate” November 6, 2022 

“Conacyt: risk of cancer from glyphosate is inherited in up to three generations,” November 11, 2022

“The yellow corn is for industrial use, not for human consumption: Cristina Barros | Read” November 15, 2022

“Halts discussion of initiative on glyphosate” November 16, 2022

“Despite the division, most of Brunette in Senate supports prohibition of agro” November 19, 2022

Families with children sickened by pesticides in the field, and the Congress still “debate”. November 24, 2022
The puberty of children is put forward by the exposure to pesticides from fruits and vegetables. 28 November 2022

Provide strong offensive against dimensioning officer of glyphosate and transgenic maize. December 5, 2022

Demand to the FAO put an end to the agreement with the industry transnational pesticides. December 5, 2022
Beyond human health, glyphosate affects whole ecosystems. 9 January 2023