The Argentine province of La Pampa prohibited the commercialization of agrochemicals at the end of January, due to a dispute between local government and the Campo Limpio Foundation, which is in charge of recovering, recycling, reducing and reusing phytosanitary containers.

A deadline of 270 days was set for the commissioning of an empty phytosanitary container management system. This expired on 28th January and until the minimum security conditions are met, sales of agrochemicals are prohibited.

Article 3 of the provision of the Provincial Under-Secretary of Environment states, “Finding in breach of the Integrated Management System for Empty Packaging of Phytosanitary Products presented by the Campo Limpio Foundation.” The government requires that the foundation presents, approves, enables and operates the integral management system.

The province also urged Campo Limpio to put the collection system into operation within 20 days, and submit the formal proposal within the next 10 days for approval.

Sectors of the marketing chain said that this situation happened due to something that was not fulfilled in a timely manner. They, therefore, indicated that a quick solution is expected and urged registrants from the sector to complete the requirements and solve the situation. In addition, they claimed that those most responsible are the registrants, who are the laboratories.

Regarding the impact of this measure on business, they indicated that it is too early to estimate the economic impact on the chain, but it stressed that the greatest risk is the emergence of pest or weed that affect crops and cannot be countered.

“The economic impact on the chain cannot be predicted, but if this continues over time there will be economic and production consequences,” they said from the sector. In addition, products cannot leave the warehouses and it is estimated the producers are not able to circulate the phytosanitary products they have already acquired, said the organization to local farmers.

 

Source: Agropages