Chemical name: Mercury compounds

Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Pesticide

Final regulatory action: The chemical is Banned

Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action:

All formulations

Pesticide use or uses that remain allowed:

None

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: Yes

Summary of the final regulatory action:

National Constitution. Sanitary Code Law No. 66 of 10 November 1947, notified on 1998.

Agricultural Development Ministry Decree No. 074 of 18 September 1997 establishing prohibited pesticides and listing prohibited pesticides in agriculture. Mercury compounds are also included in this list.

Law No. 12 of 14 June 2000 approved the Rotterdam Convention for the application of the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous pesticides and chemicals in the international trade, signed in Rotterdam on 10 September 1998.

Law No.1 of 10 January 2001 on medicines and other hazardous products for human health.

Executive Decree No. 305 of 9 September 2002 establishing the automatic cancellation in order to regulate the import of certain potentially hazardous chemical substances (such as substances or controlled hazardous materials), and determining other provisions.

The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to: Human health and environment

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

Reducing exposure to risk factor will reduce the effects on the population directly exposed (occupational) and on the population indirectly exposed (accidental, environmental or acquired) to this product, and this is confirmed by special studies of toxicity on aquatic and terrestrial organisms.

During the Second Forum of the IFCS it was outlined that other studies were not necessary if the information was validated and confirmed by experts. However, the communication of risk evaluation could change.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to human health:

The product is subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure which requires that those hazardous substances and pesticides that are banned or severely restricted must not be exported, unless the importing country provides explicit consent. Those countries that do not consent such substances are obliged to prohibit national production of the substance for domestic uses. It is declared prohibited by the Government of Panama.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to the environment:

All registered formulations have been cancelled. It is considered hazardous waste subject to specialized control and treatment.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 01/01/2002