Feedback Sought For Pesticides Regulations
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Home Affairs are reminding the public that the consultation period for the proposed Pesticides Regulations, an initiative announced in the Speech from the Throne in November 2022, will conclude on August 4th.
A Government spokesperson said, “The proposed Pesticides Regulations are designed to bring the Pesticides Safety Act 2009 into force, significantly enhancing the safety of pesticide use in Bermuda from both a human health and environmental perspective.”
“I encourage all stakeholders – from government agencies and businesses to environmental organizations and individual citizens – to contribute their valuable insights and perspectives. This is an opportunity to collectively create Pesticides Regulations that effectively protect our environment and the health of our community, while ensuring the continued availability of these important tools for those who rely on them,” said Minister of Health, Kim Wilson.
The Government spokesperson said, “Due to current resource limitations, it is not feasible to implement new regulations for all aspects of pesticide control simultaneously. Additionally, some aspects of pesticide use are already regulated under other laws, such as the Agriculture Act (covering the importation of agricultural, horticultural, or home garden products) and the Fumigation Control Act (governing tent fumigation and licensing of pest control businesses). Therefore, the Ministry has chosen to prioritize the development of the most critical regulations first.
“The public consultation aims to gather feedback to determine the priority areas for regulation and to shape the final regulations.
“We encourage all members of the public to participate in the survey by August 4th. Your input is invaluable in ensuring that the regulations effectively address the most pressing concerns.
“Responses can be submitted at www.forum.gov.bm. For more information visit https://www.gov.bm/articles/public-consultation-pesticides-regulation.”
“The proposed Pesticides Regulations are designed to bring the Pesticides Safety Act 2009 into force”
Why is this happening now? The PLP Government passed the Pesticides Safety Act 2009 15 years ago but never brought the law into force. Why bring it into force now?