Penang, Malaysia \u2013 An investigation by Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PANAP) reveals that banned Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) paraquat, endosulfan, and profenophos are being sold through e-commerce platforms such as Shopee and Lazada.<\/p>\n
With the surge in online shopping and the exponential growth of Malaysia’s e-commerce market<\/a>, online shopping platforms have also become a growing avenue for the sale of pesticide products. PANAP\u2019s new report \u201cUnboxed: Online Sales of Banned Pesticides in Malaysia\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/strong> details how regulatory loopholes have allowed for the sale of banned HHPs in Malaysia.<\/p>\n Paraquat, endosulfan, and profenophos are among the 48 banned or restricted<\/a> pesticides in Malaysia due to their wide-ranging negative impacts on human health and the environment. These pesticides are known to cause cancer, developmental disorders, diseases, and are linked to many cases of fatalities. In addition, these substances persist in the environment and are highly toxic to animals and other organisms. Endosulfan is listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants<\/a> and has been listed for elimination in 2011, while paraquat is a candidate for listing<\/a> in the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.<\/p>\n However, profit often overshadows responsibility. PANAP\u2019s investigation reveals that the three banned HHPs (paraquat, endosulfan, and profenophos) in Malaysia are openly sold on e-commerce platforms. Report findings include:<\/p>\n \u201cWhile national laws and international conventions exist to regulate pesticides, enforcement of these regulations remain inadequate. Manufacturers, traders, and other opportunists continue to circumvent the law by utilizing unlicensed traders and e-commerce platforms to market banned pesticides, posing significant risks to human health and the environment. The failure of e-commerce platforms to regulate the sale of illegal\/banned pesticides puts consumers in peril, as they unknowingly purchase and use highly toxic pesticides. The Malaysian government needs to strictly regulate these e-commerce platforms and their sellers, and to stop the online sales of banned pesticides,\u201d said Sarojeni Rengam, PANAP Executive Director.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n PANAP emphasised that consumers need to be aware of the hazards of toxic pesticides, report their irresponsible sales, and move towards safer, healthier alternatives such as agroecological practices<\/a>. \u201cAgroecology \u2013 or farming which replaces toxic chemicals with practices that are in harmony with nature \u2013 must be recognised, prioritised, and supported as \u2018good agricultural practice.\u2019 Agroecology has been shown to result in agricultural produce that is safer, not just for local consumers and export markets, but also for farmers and their children who have the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment,\u201d Rengam concluded.<\/p>\n Download \u201cUnboxed: Online Sales of Banned Pesticides in Malaysia\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n