COUNTRY PAPER

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BANGLADESH
COUNTRY PAPER Bangladesh is predominantly an
agricultural country with an area of 1,47,570 sq.
km. Agriculture plays an important role in the
lives of Bangladeshi people. The major crops
grown in the country are rice, wheat, jute,
potato, sugarcane, vegetables and tea. The warm
and humid climatic condition of the country,
increase use of modern high yielding varieties of
crops and more use of chemical fertilizers are
highly favorable for development and
multiplication of pests and diseases. The
estimated loss in yields due to attach pests and
diseases annually ranges from 15 25. The
severity varies depending on the variety, season
and climate.
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The main pests of economic importance in
different crops are
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Pest control in Bangladesh is dependent on the
use of pesticides, the bulk of which are in
granular formulations. However, the total usage
is approximately 20,000 metric tons of formulated
products is not high compared to usage in other
countries in the Asia-Pacific region. In
practice, farmers use of pesticides only when
infestation is evident even then, only minimal
doses are applied.
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Use of Pesticides The use of pesticides in
Bangladesh is based on minimum curative
applications with 70 in rice and the remaining
30 on tea, sugarcane, potato, mango, banana
vegetables. Key pesticides being used are
carbofuran 5 GR, Diazinon 10 GR, Sulphur 80
WDG, Mancozeb 80 WP, Chlorpyriphos 20 EC,
Cypermethrin 10 EC, Cartap 50 SP, Quinalphos
25 WC, Pretilachlor 50 EC, Propiconazole 25 EC
and Phenthoate 50 EC, Butachlor etc.
Consumptions of pesticides during last three
years are
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Pesticide Industry Profile The Pesticide
industry in Bangladesh is comprised of private
companies and foreign companies. It is
represented by an organization, Bangladesh Crop
Protection Association. Total members of the
association are around 50. Pesticides are
distributed through distributors.
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Local Production of Pesticides Because the Govt.
is committed to a policy of self sufficiency,
Govt. provides with duty waiver on import of
technical material and other related adjuvant for
local formulation of pesticides. There are 10
companies operating in different areas of the
country producing some granular and emulsifiable
concentrate formulation. Key pesticides being
formulated in the country are Carbofuran 5 GR,
Diazinon 10 GR, Butachlor 5 GR, Malathion 57
EC, Fenitrothion 50 EC and Diazinon 60 EC.
Criterion required for obtaining a formulation
license is mostly in consonance with the
Integrated International Safety Guidelines for
Pesticide Formulation in Developing Countries.
Besides, clearance is to be obtained from the
Department of Environment after establishment of
the facilities for local formulation. Department
of Environment after assessing and examining the
product emitted during formulation of certain
pesticide consider recommendation for a
formulation license. Quarterly medical check up
for the workers of the formulation plant is
mandatory.
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Pesticide Regulatory Policies Agricultural
pesticides have been primarily in use since early
sixties. However, Pesticide Ordinance was
promulgated in 1971 to regulate import,
manufacture, formulation distribution and use
of pesticides. The ordinance was amended in 1980
mainly to accommodate the provision for licensing
and the trade was handed over to the private
sector. Pesticide rules were framed in 1985 for
carrying out the provision of the ordinance. The
Ordinance extends to all pesticides, whether used
for agriculture, public health or any other
purpose. The Ministry of Agriculture through the
Plant Protection Wing of the Department of
Agricultural Extension (DAE) administers it. The
Ordinance and the rules provide the basic
framework for the regulation and control conform
to the proposed guidelines on the UN Food and
Agricultural Organization (FAO). The Ordinance
provides for a Pesticide Technical Advisory
committee, a laboratory, Government appointed
analysts and inspectors required licensing of all
handlers of pesticides, controlling imports,
manufacture and formulation of pesticides,
packaging, labeling, storage guidelines and
safety precautions for handlers of pesticides.
However, implementing the legislation depends
on a large extent on available expertise,
laboratory facilities and field research
stations. The pesticide laboratories operated by
chemists, management staff including a Director,
Additional Director, Deputy Director and
Regulation Officer of Plant Protection.
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Registration Scheme The registration scheme
incorporates most of the concepts and guidelines
recommended by Food and Agricultural Organization
and certain features from countries such as
Pakistan, India, Philippines and the United
States. Importing, formulating, repackaging,
selling, holding in stock for sale and
advertising of any pesticide is prohibited unless
the product has been registered.

• An application form, according the provision
  Pesticide Rules along with literatures and a
  sample of the product are submitted to the Plant
  Protection Wing of Department of Agricultural
  Extension. All submitted documents are reviewed
  and the sample is verified in the Pesticide
  laboratory of Plant Protection for verification
  of the specification. The data requirements for
  registration are essentially in accordance with
  FAO guidelines that include physical and
  chemical properties toxicological data efficacy
  data residues and environmental effects. Foreign
  data are acceptable, except for efficacy and fish
  toxicity studies. These must be conducted in
  Bangladesh in accordance with prescribed
  guidelines.

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• Upon receipt of the results of the chemical
  analysis the sample is sent to concerned
  Government research institute for bio efficacy
  tests under field conditions. The results of the
  efficacy trials are evaluated by a sub-
  evaluation committee composed of experts
  representing various research institutes,
  Department of Environment, Health and Fisheries
  .The Pesticide Technical Advisory Committee
  chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
  finally grants registration to a brand of
  pesticide after thorough examination of all
  reports when it is recommended by sub- evaluation
  committee. A registration certificate which is
  valid for three years and renewable for the same
  period is issued by the Director of Plant
  Protection if the products prove effective for
  the intended purpose. Under the present scheme,
  registration may be obtained between six months
  to three years from the date of application,
  depending on the number of seasons of trials
  required.

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List of Registered Pesticides A total of 628
brands of agricultural pesticides and 170 brand
of public health pesticides are registered which
are as follows Agricultural pesticides
Public health pesticides
Following acceptance for registration, the
applicant must submit a copy of the proposed
label to the Director, Plant Protection before
marketing. All labels must be printed in Bengali,
must include the expiration date and must be
marked POISON and display the skull and
crossbones symbol. Color coding differs slightly
from FAO code.
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Labeling of Pesticides All pesticides
regardless of classification carry the word
POISON. Only class I formulation displays skull
and cross bone. Class II and class III
formulation carries the word DANGEROUS and
CAUTION respectively. Three panel labels are
used which incorporates most of the features of
the FAO guidelines on labels. The following
information is provided on the label of the
pesticide containers
The label is printed in national language i.e. in
Bengali
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Enforcement mechanism Ensuring the quality of
the pesticides in the market and regulating the
formulation and packaging of products after
registration is an important aspect of pesticide
legislation. Therefore inspectors are appointed
to ensure enforcement through regularly visiting
pesticide dealers and collecting samples for
checks on specifications. In cases of
adulteration penalties are imposed. To strengthen
the registration process and to ensure
enforcement of the provisions of the legislation,
additional controls have been implemented. These
include controlling imports, controlling the
availability and use of pesticides, and licensing
handlers. For example, pesticides cannot be
imported unless previously registered, packed and
labeled as prescribed. In addition, the importer
must have an import license and proper storage
facilities.
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Banned or Restricted Pesticides Pesticides which
do not conform to the regulatory standards are
not permitted for registration. The following
pesticides are banned in Bangladesh for use in
agriculture
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Licensing Requirements of Pesticide
Handlers Under the provision of the Pesticide
Ordinance, all pesticide handlers must obtain a
license before they can engage in any business
dealing with pesticides. All types of licenses
are valid for a period of two years unless
earlier revoked or cancelled. A renewal for a
same period may be obtained by submitting the
appropriate fee.
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Training in the safe and efficient use of
pesticides Plant Protection Wing, DAE emphasizes
training programs designed to meet the needs of
specific target clientele. After handing over the
pesticide trade to the private sector in 1981 a
training program for the pesticide dealers were
conducted by Plant Protection Wing, DAE with the
collaboration ESCAP/ARSAP. Meanwhile the industry
has accepted the responsibility of training their
personnel. In this context progress has been made
and pesticide dealers are being trained on safe
and efficient use of pesticides by the industry.
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Regulatory deficiencies and other problems In
theory, the regulatory scheme is systematic. But
in practice, however, there are gaps between the
policies and implementation. For example, while
the intent of the Ordinance and rules to monitor
formulations and residues is commendable, the
lack of facilities and trained analysts does not
allow proper monitoring. Thus, specification of
pesticides on the market may differ from those
registered.
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Lack of Residue monitoring Although the
Government is concerned about pesticide residues
in the food and the environment, staff and
facilities to conduct the necessary monitoring
programs are not available. In addition the
country is not yet established legal limits for
residues and depends upon Codex allowable limit
which are not always proposed for all crops and
major pesticides used with in the country.
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Conclusion In brief, I tried to give you an
overall idea of the pesticide registration,
requirements, implementation process and their
monitoring for maintaining the quality of the
pesticide. Efforts are underway to implement of
FAO guidelines at all level. In this regard a
joint collaborative program among the member
countries in this region with the assistance of
FAO is a must. However, I express my thanks and
gratitude to you all for giving patience hearing
of my deliberation.