Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha agrees with the decision by the National Hazardous Substances Committee (NHSC) on November 27th to delay the enforcement of the ban on paraquat and chlorpyrifos for six months and to allow controlled use of glyphosate, because there are still residual stocks in the possession of farmers and traders, estimated to be worth as much as 10 billion baht.
Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said today (Tuesday) that he had reported to the Prime Minister about the need to postpone the ban that he had agreed with the committee’s judgement, noting that the Government cannot afford to pay compensation in case stocks of the three substances are seized and destroyed.
Mr. Suriya, who is also NHSC chairman, insisted that the committee’s resolution to delay the ban is legal, adding that Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul did not comment during the cabinet meeting today, when he reported to the Prime Minister about the committee’s resolution, adding that issue was over.
Thammasat vice rector Prinya Thaewanarumitkul has said that the NHSC’s resolution on November 27th is illegal because it did not fully comply with the Hazardous Substances Act.
