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PANUPS: Obsolete Pesticides - Africa



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                         P A N U P S
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                   Pesticide Action Network 
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August 23, 1996

Obsolete Pesticide Stocks in Africa

Approximately 20,000 tonnes of obsolete pesticides are stored 
in Africa, often in containers that leak toxic waste into the 
environment, according to a recent UN Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) report. FAO calls on agrochemical 
companies to share in the cost of disposing of these stocks, 
which is estimated to be more than US$100 million. "Obsolete" 
refers to pesticides that have been banned or whose shelf 
life has expired.

"Obsolete pesticide stocks are potential time-bombs," 
according to Niek van der Graaff, director of FAO's Plant 
Protection Service. Drums are frequently stored in the open, 
exposed to direct sun and rain, and deterioration of 
containers is often accelerated by unfavourable climatic 
conditions. The FAO report states that leaks, seepage and 
various accidents related to pesticides are common and 
widespread. In addition, most stores are in urban areas or 
close to residential dwellings. 

FAO states that many of these stockpiled pesticides are so 
toxic that a few grams could poison thousands of people or 
contaminate a large area. The report also documents stocks of 
highly persistent pesticides, including DDT, dieldrin and 
HCH.

Because most developing countries do not have appropriate 
facilities for disposing of pesticides, obsolete stocks must 
be sent to industrialized countries for disposal, increasing 
disposal costs substantially. A recent operation to transport 
nearly 260 tonnes of obsolete pesticides from Yemen to Europe 
for incineration cost between US$3,000-US$4,000 per tonne. 
FAO recommends using high temperature incineration to dispose 
of pesticides. According to The Pesticides Trust (UK), there 
are no safe and environmentally sound hazardous waste 
incineration facilities in developing countries. 

International "aid" arrangements are responsible for a 
significant part of the obsolete pesticide stocks in Africa, 
according to The Pesticides Trust. Excessive donations, 
donations that arrived too late and donations of 
inappropriate products have made a major contribution to the 
stockpiles. Other important factors include inaccurate 
forecasting of pesticide requirements, insufficient 
application capacity, ineffective distribution systems and 
banning pesticides while they are still in storage. In 
addition, aggressive marketing by the pesticide industry has 
led to the build-up of pesticide stocks in Africa. Of 
approximately US$672 million worth of pesticides imported 
into African countries during 1993-94, as much as 40% might 
be obsolete, according to FAO. 

The Pesticides Trust stated that international pesticide 
disposal projects have removed approximately 650 tonnes of 
obsolete pesticides from Africa since 1991. Currently, 
Morocco and Sahara contain the greatest quantity of obsolete 
pesticides with over 1000 tonnes each, according to FAO. 
Sudan, Tunisia and Zaire follow with 500-1000 tonnes each. 
Countries with 50-500 tonnes include Benin, Cameroon, 
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, 
Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, South 
Africa, Togo, Upper Volta and Zambia. At least 16 countries 
have not quantified obsolete pesticide stocks, including 
Algeria, Angola, Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, 
Kenya, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, and Somalia. 

Source: Agrow, June 28, 1996; "Unused Pesticides in 
Developing Countries," FAO Press Release, June 10, 1996; 
Pesticides News, June 1996.

Contact: PANNA

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