Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2019-01-29

Strengthening of the mechanism for implementing and regulating the Control of Pesticides Act, No.33 of 1980

- The task of regulating the use of pesticides in Sri Lanka is carried out by the Control of Pesticides Act, No.33 of 1980 as amended by the Acts No.06 of 1994 and No.31 of 2011. The number of pesticide products has been increased considerably up to about 700 which prevailed at 70 in the year 1983 when this Act came into operation. Similarly, it has been found necessary to update the management of pesticides to coincide with the world trends and the development taking place in the pesticide industry. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon.P. Harison, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development to secure funds required for the purpose of strengthening the process of protecting the quality of pesticides compositions to ensure that they conform to the requirement regarding pesticide residues in food crops, ensuring food safety and protection of the consumer from pesticide residues and expanding international recognized conformity analysis facilities, disseminating world trends in agricultural produce and good agricultural practices in the country, developing the requisite data systems and administrative structures required for the effective implementation of field monitoring not only the pesticides in agricultural sector but also in other sectors related thereto, was approved by the Cabinet.