A Fundamental Rights petition filed by an environmental organisation seeking an order suspending the operation of a gazette notification issued to import pesticide glyphosate was today fixed for support by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court three-judge bench comprising Justices Murdu Fernando, Gamini Amarasekara and Kumuduni Wickremasinghe fixed the petition to be taken up for support on October 12.
An Extraordinary Gazette notification has been issued allowing the importation of pesticide glyphosate with effect from August 5, 2022.
The petitioners, the Centre for Environmental Justice and its directors, are seeking an order directing the authorities to formulate an action plan to phase out pesticides, glyphosate and other agrochemicals within 6 months.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Registrar of Pesticides, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medical Services, Director General of Health Services, Central Environmental Authority, and Attorney General were named as the respondents in the petition.
The petitioners state that the frequent and indiscriminate application of highly hazardous pesticides and herbicides in high concentrations has been often irrational and has posed serious health and financial risks.
Pesticides and agrochemicals applied to crops can find their way into food chains in several ways. The petitioners stated that there are possibilities of contamination of animal products by various agrochemicals, especially in the upcountry due to insufficiency of grazing lands.
The petitioners state that the lifting of the ban imposed on Glyphosate by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the
The failure of the other respondents to regulate the use of herbicides, pesticides, and other agrochemicals has resulted in actions harmful to the health and lives of the citizens and future generations, and the same has already been recorded in various studies.
Attorney-at-law Ravindranath Dabare appeared for the petitioners. Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath appeared for the Attorney General.
