Chemical name: 4,7-Methano-1H-indene, 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,8-octachloro-2,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydro-

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:

Agricultural Development Ministry Decree No. 074 of 18 September 1997 establishing prohibited pesticides and listing prohibited pesticides in agriculture. Chlordane is 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:

Inherent risks to human health and environment are higher than the benefits obtained with its use, there are no measures to reduce risks to acceptable level, and better alternatives can be found.

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 obsolete Chlordane acting as spray insecticide, due to the volatility it was not admitted in deep underground or under-soil surface injection, this is confirmed by a series of special toxicity studies on organisms in a systematized environment by IRPTC, giving advise that Chlordane is toxic for tropical aquatic microorganisms and the soil infertility.

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 that requires that hazardous substances and pesticides that are banned or severely restricted must not be exported, unless the importing country provide explicit consent. Those countries that do not consent to import of such substances are obliged to prohibit national production of the substance for domestic uses. It is declared banned by the Government of Panama.

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

High potential of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. It has been involved many times in the poisoning of the wild life. It is in the UNEP COP list, international action is required for this product to reduce risks for human health and environment. The half life on soil is 4 years but can persist until 20 years. It is relatively immobile in the environment and has a low contaminant power for deep waters because its insolubility, and in addition it can fit to soil particles.

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