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Women on Farms Project calls for urgent ban on cyanamide pesticide

Farmworkers Women farm workers and dwellers march to Philagro's office in Somerset West to hand over a memorandum demanding a complete and immediate end to the production, export and use of cyanamide/Dormex for agricultural purposes amid serious health concerns. Image: Supplied AGRICULTURE Minister John Steenhuisen has yet to disclose how his office would deal with increasing calls for a complete and immediate end to the production, export and use of cyanamide/Dormex for agricultural purposes, amid serious health risks to farmworkers. Cyanamide, a Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP), according to Women on Farms Project (WFP) had lost its approval in the European Union since 2008, but is still produced by Alzchem in Germany from where it is exported to countries in the global South, including South Africa. In South Africa, cyanamide is distributed by Philagro on behalf of Alzchem, according to WFP. A memorandum by Women on Farms project is accepted by Schalk Reynolds from Philagro. Image: Supplied Scores of women farm workers and dwellers recently marched to Philagro's office in Somerset West to hand over a memorandum for the attention of Alzchem Group AG, to highlight their concerns. 'In 2019, WFP, a feminist South African non-governmental organisation, undertook a desk-top study which found that 67 pesticides that are already banned in Europe are still exported to and used in South Africa. Since the launch of its Double Standards campaign, WFP has been lobbying the South African government to ban these pesticides, while also demanding that European companies like Alzchem stop the production and export of pesticides that have been banned in the European Union because they are so harmful to human health. "Farmwomen have stated that it is unjust that farm workers in South Africa, the majority of whom are women, are exposed to pesticides that have been banned in Europe," said WFP. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ WFP lamented that many farm women were exposed to Dormex/cyanamide without proper training, no proper protective equipment, were also not guaranteed water to wash their hands or even a toilet to relieve themselves while working. 'The European Food and Safety Authority (2010) found that even when proper protective equipment, masks, gloves, visors, hoods and rubber boots are used; operator exposure estimates exceeded acceptable levels by 6433%. The situation in South Africa is particularly dire as there is widespread non-compliance with the South African occupational health and safety legislation and a persistent lack of effective enforcement by labour inspectors,' the organisation added. They want a formal meeting with Alzchem to discuss their concerns.