How a pesticide cemetery is tried to be created through the organic bill in Ukraine

The amendment number 72 to draft No. 5448-d dated 30.03.2018 completely duplicates the content of draft law No. 6606 of June 21, 2017 "On Amendments to Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine "On Pesticides and Agrochemicals" on the Importation of Pesticides into the Customs Territory of Ukraine (Subparagraph 1 of paragraph 1), which caused much criticism and indignation, was included six times in the agenda of the session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, but was never considered.

It bears reminding that on February 8, 2018, a press conference was held in the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency on the topic "The Parliament's agrarian lobby is preparing Ukrainians for genetic experiments on themselves. Bill 6606». On May 23, 2018, the round table "Influence of the uncontrolled pesticide market on the ecosystem of Ukraine" took place in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, with the participation of profile organizations, people's deputies of Ukraine, representatives of state bodies, where negative risks of the bill No. 6606 of June 21, 2017 were taken into account. Representatives of the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations were also invited to participate in the event and discussion. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine does not support the adoption of the bill No. 6606 of June 21, 2017, by an official letter.

Bill 5448-d of 30.03.2018 on organic production in the editorial board adopted in the first reading did not provide for anything about simplifying the import and use of unregistered pesticides in Ukraine for state tests and scientific research. Such amendments appeared only in preparation for the second reading and were in fact hidden in the bill. The amendment 72 means the adoption of bill 6606, but in another document.

The profile organizations do not exclude that persons who benefit from simplification of import and use of unregistered pesticides in Ukraine for state tests and scientific research will continue to try to adopt such legislative amendment, hiding it, perhaps in another bill. Preliminary consideration of Bill No. 5448-d in the second reading was scheduled for June 7, 2018 at the meeting of the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations, but the meeting of the Committee was postponed. Specialized organizations such as the Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association, the Ukrainian Industrial Association of Plant Protection, the Ukrainian Ecological League and the Ukrainian Business Association, warn that the current norm of the Law of Ukraine "On Pesticides and Agrochemicals", which is being tried to be canceled today, plays a national importance to the importance of safety and inhibits the import of finished products of questionable quality, which can cause irreparable harm to life and health of citizens.

Bill No. 6606 of June 21, 2017 and amendments to the number 72 and 73 in the text of the draft Law of the river. No.5448-d of 30.03.2018 for consideration in the second reading opens the way for import of pesticides into the territory of Ukraine, which for some reason, including their dangers to the environment, life and human health, were not allowed or prohibited in other countries. It is no secret that international companies have a large volume of pesticides produced, which, according to the results of revealing their harmful aftereffect, have been banned in their countries of production. Nevertheless, the storage and disposal of such pesticides is a valuable cargo, so international companies are looking for any possible ways to save and not incur large losses.

After the adoption of bill No. 6606 of June 21, 2017 and amendments to the number 72 and 73 in the text of the draft Law of the river. №5448-d dated 30.03.2018 for consideration in the second reading, international companies will be able to establish and register in Ukraine research drugs that are not allowed for use in their country of production, and then import tens of thousands of tons of pesticides that can cause an imminent ecological catastrophe Ukrainian flora and fauna and, above all, the health and life of Ukrainians.

The Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association, the Ukrainian Industrial Association for Plant Protection, the All-Ukrainian Ecological League, the Ukrainian Business Association believe that the proposed approach in the bill No. 6606 of June 21, 2017 and amendment number 72 in the text of the draft Law №5448-d of 30.03.2018 for consideration in the second reading will complicate the harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with the rules and directives of the EU (Directive 2009/128/EC, Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, Directive 2000/60/EC, Directive 98/83/EC, Directive 2006/118/EC, Directive 2004/35/CE) regulating the use of plant protection products - the use of new drugs in the country member of the EU is possible only after the appropriate registration of a new drug in a member state of the EU. And also if there is a separate permission of the country to use new drugs on its territory. Thus, according to the EU rules, each new drug (pesticide) must undergo a state trial according to a certain procedure and on the basis of a previously issued permit the EU member state issues a permit for use in another EU country.

Adoption of the specified norm of the bill No. 6606 of June 21, 2017 and amendments to the number 72 and 73 in the text of the draft Law No.5448-d dated 30.03.2018 for consideration in the second reading is premature and can be considered only after bringing the relevant regulatory and legal acts regulating the turnover of pesticides in accordance with EU directives and the principles of harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with the EU legislation.

There are no legislative restrictions on the import of new active substances in Ukraine for scientific experiments, including for Ukrainian scientific institutions, and the procedure for testing new products can be approved by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with the involvement of a specialized scientific society.

The Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association, Ukrainian Industrial Association for Plant Protection, the Ukrainian Ecological League, the Ukrainian Business Association in an addressed letter to people's deputies called for the priority of health and safety of the Ukrainian people and refuses to amend the number 72 and 73 in the text of the draft Law No.5448-d dated 30.03.2018 for consideration in the second reading, and the main agrarian committee does not support these amendments when considering at its meeting. As in the future, they insist on the withdrawal of bill No. 6606 of June 21, 2017, and people's deputies of Ukraine do not support it in case of consideration in the parliament.