The Pesticides Control Board is in the process of amending its legislation, so what comes out of the two-day meeting that is currently underway will help policy-makers to put together the necessary adjustments to the legislation. That legislation governs how agrochemicals are used in Belize. Chief Environmental Officer, Anthony Mai suggests that there have been tell-tale signs which point to the need for stricter laws, while Registrar of the Pesticides Control Board, Miriam Ochaeta-Serrut feels that networking beyond these two days is what will keep practices under better control.

Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, Department of the Environment
"It is critically important for the department to ensure that more stringent environmental conditions are considered within the legislation. In fact, we have our national environmental strategy and policy and it is important for these policies in terms of what we want to do, that they be synergized with what the Pesticides Control Board wants to do."


Miriam Ochaeta-Serrut, Registrar, Pesticides Control Board
"It is our hope that as a result of these discussions we will be able to forge a stronger collaborative network among the critical partners: the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Health the Ministry of Agriculture and or sister agency, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority and the wider group of stakeholders."

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Agricultural & Environmental Representatives Discuss Impacts of Agrochemical Misuse

Agrochemicals are important to the health of the produce we grow for food, but so too are the ways in which we use and apply them. This is what the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security & Enterprise and the Pesticides Control Board are discussing today and tomorrow. The objective is to come up with a strategic plan for the next five years. News Five's Marion Ali has the story in this report.



Channel 5