Consultation to take place over use of pesticides
Public consultation is to be launched on regulations governing the use of pesticides, the health minister said yesterday.
Addressing MPs in the House of Assembly, Kim Wilson said the initiative, first announced in the Speech from the Throne in November 2022, marked “a significant step towards ensuring the safe and responsible use of pesticides in Bermuda”.
In 2022, Ms Wilson said pesticides, including the controversial weedkiller Roundup, would get tighter governmental oversight.
The minister said: “While pesticides offer undeniable benefits in various sectors, their misuse poses potential risks to both our environment and the health of our people.
“Given Bermuda's unique vulnerabilities — our island’s susceptibility to environmental damage and our high population density with reliance on rainwater harvesting — it is crucial that we implement pesticide controls that are tailored to the specific risks that they pose.”
She said the pesticides regulations, to be enacted under the Pesticides Safety Act 2009, aimed to enhance the safety of pesticide use in Bermuda from both human health and environmental perspectives.
“The scope of these regulations is broad, potentially encompassing rules for importation, sale, use and disposal of pesticides.
“However, recognising the limitations of our current resources, we will prioritise the development of one or two sets of regulations initially, focusing on the most critical areas.”
The minister added: “This public consultation will be instrumental in informing our decision on which areas to prioritise and in shaping the final form of the regulations.”
According to the minister, consultation participants will be invited to complete an online questionnaire and to sign up for participation in online focus group discussions.
A series of stakeholder consultation meetings will be held in late August and early September to gather input and discuss key issues. Nine focus groups will be held.
Consultation meetings will be held with the general public, regulators, and retailers during the penultimate week of August.
Non-governmental organisations, government pesticide users, and structural pest control businesses will also meet in the last week of August.
Consultation meetings will be held with golf courses, landscapers, and farmers in the first week of September.
“We encourage all stakeholders, from government agencies and businesses to environmental organisations and individual citizens, to contribute their valuable insights and perspectives.
“Together, we can create pesticides regulations that effectively protect our environment and the health of our community, while ensuring the continued availability of these important tools for those who rely on them.”
Members of the public who want to participate can access the consultation on www.forum.gov.bm.
• To read the minister’s full statement, see Related Media
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