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Panama - Final Regulatory Action
DDT CAS number:
50-29-3
Date circular:
12/06/2004

Chemical name: 1,1'-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)bis[4-chloro-benzene]

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. DDT 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:

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 DDT and degradation products, this is confirmed biochemical interactor, possibly carcinogenic to human, mutagenic, neurotoxic, produces primer irritation, inmunotoxic, affecting reproduction and teratogenic.

During the Second Forum of the IFCS it was indicated that other studies were not necessary if the information was validated and verified 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 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 such substances are obliged to prohibit national production of the substance for domestic uses. It is declared banned by the Government of Panama.

It is foreseen the Ratification of the Stockholm Convention.

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

High potential of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. It is widely distributed in the environment. Extreme acute toxicity for fishes and shellfishes. Low toxicity for bees and birds, in this last case the chronic exposition produces severe effects on reproduction, reducing the egg thickness and the embryo feasibility.

The product is included in the UNEP COP list, and international action is required to reduce risks for human health and environment. It is highly persistent on soil: 50% disappears after 2 to 15 years. It is a contaminant of surface waters.

It is widely distributed in the environment; bioaccumulator through the trophy chain; essentially not biodegradable; degradable in DDE and DDD, metabolites or degradation products which are also extremely persistent and dangerous. Can persist in soil for decades. It belongs to the dirty dozen.

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