Steps will be taken to remove the Registrar of Pesticides who had issued the Gazette lifting the ban on five pesticides including Glyphosate and also to make the previous Gazette valid, Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said he had instructed the Secretary to the Agriculture Ministry to call for explanation and take disciplinary action against the Registrar of Pesticides.
“Instructions have also been given to revoke the Extraordinary Gazette issued yesterday (22) revoking the Gazette issued in 2014, which prohibited the use and selling of five pesticides including Glyphosate in several areas,” he said.
“Accordingly, the Gazette issued yesterday will be revoked and the validate the previous Gazette,” the Minister added.
An Extraordinary Gazette was issued by the Registrar of Pesticides yesterday superseding the Gazette issued in 2014, which prohibited the use and sale of five pesticides including Glyphosate.
Following the most recent Gazette, the ban on using and selling of the said pesticides had been lifted in the several areas including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala. (Sheain Fernandopulle)