The Malaysian Insight

ILLEGAL pesticides applied at early planting stage are not absorbed by the rice crops, making the harvest safe to eat, said the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry today.

In a statement in response to concerns that the Malaysan staple was tainted by illegal pesticides, the ministry said there was no cause for worry because the pesticides would have dissipated by the time the crops were harvested.

“The public need not worry. The use of pesticide is at the early stages of planting. The pesticide is easily broken down and dissipated and it is not absorbed into crops,” the ministry said.

The ministry it was and its agency, Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) said it is also clamping down the sale and smuggling of the pesticides, which are believed to be manufactured in China and smuggled into the country through Thailand.

This year the ministry has made 300 inspections on stores, plantations and night markets to curb the sale of the pesticides, which are used against an invasive snail species called “siput gondang,” or golden apple snail.

Illegal pesticides worth RM1.05 million, believed to have been smuggled from Thailand, were seized on November 27.

Under the Pesticide Act 1974, those found guilty of possessing and using illegal poisons can be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed for a year. Production, import or sale of such pesticides is punishable by a fine of between RM10,000 and RM50,000, three to five years in prison, or both.

Mada, which the supervises the padi industry in Kedah and Perlis, will also continue to educate farmers on the dangers of illegal pesticides and better methods of pest control, the ministry said.

The government’s assurances are in response to a report by The Malaysian Insight on the wide and harmful use of unregulated pesticides by farmers in Kedah and Perlis, an area which produces 40% of the rice consumed in the country.

Eight farmers told TMI they were ‘forced’ to use the pest killers, which active ingredient was fentin acetate, as the subsidised pesticides sold in MADA stores were ineffective against “siput gondang”.

Fentin acetate is extremely toxic and carcinogenic, and causes infertility and skin problems, and breathing difficulties to those who come into contact with it.

The label in Chinese on the pesticide says it contains 45% fentin acetate “wet” powder and is produced by Heben pesticide in China. The toxicity level is listed as “medium”.

Farmers told TMI that unlike the MADA-supplied poisons the illegal pesticides are easier to use.

Mada has argued that the chemicals sold in its stores are effective against the snails, provided tthey are used in the proper dosage and at the correct time.

And unlike the unregulated poisons, Mada said its pest killer was certified safe to use. 

Golden apple snails are listed among the world’s 100 worst invasive species because of the devastating effect they have on biodiversity in affected areas, as well as the impact it has on rice crops. – December 24, 2018.