BUJUMBURA, 2 June (ABP) – Burundi is asserting itself as a committed player in the regulation and management of chemical pesticides, aware of the health and environmental challenges they represent. A study conducted in 2022 by Inades-Formation, a pan-African organisation dedicated to sustainable and equitable development, particularly in rural areas, has enlightened public opinion on the dangers of these products and the need for coordinated precautions on the part of users, consumers and decision-makers.
Inades-Formation, which operates in Burundi and works to improve farmers’ quality of life and promote sustainable agriculture, commissioned this research to raise awareness of the risks associated with synthetic pesticides. It is essential that Burundi, as a sovereign nation, is fully involved in the sub-regional, regional and international dynamics regarding the use of pesticides, based on a set of laws, texts and regulations in force.
A solid legal foundation for environmental and health protection
The Constitution of the Republic of Burundi, promulgated on 7 June 2018, provides a solid foundation for this approach. Its Article 35 clearly states that “the State shall ensure the sound management and rational exploitation of the country’s natural resources while preserving the environment and conserving these resources for future generations.” This fundamental provision guides all actions in terms of pesticide management.
Burundi has also ratified several major international legal instruments, demonstrating its commitment to protecting human health and preserving the environment. Among these key agreements, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), adopted in May 2001, aims to protect human health and the environment from POPs, based on the precautionary principle. This convention covers an initial list of 24 chemicals, including pesticides, and it is important to note that all the pesticides covered by this convention are banned from use in Burundi. The Environment and Climate Change Directorate of the Office Burundais pour la Protection de l’Environnement (OBPE) is the focal point for this Convention.
Another international pillar is the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure. Its aim is to promote shared responsibility and international cooperation in the trade of certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides. It aims to protect health and the environment by facilitating the exchange of information and establishing a national decision-making process for the import and export of these 40 products. Two designated national authorities share responsibility: the Directorate-General for Water for industrial chemicals and the Plant Protection Directorate for pesticides.
In addition, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, ratified by Burundi in 1997, aims to reduce the movement of hazardous waste between countries, particularly between developed and developing countries. It also encourages the environmentally sound management of waste, its reduction at source and the minimisation of its toxicity.
Codes of conduct and trade agreements for responsible management
In addition to conventions, the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides, adopted by the FAO, sets out the responsibilities and establishes voluntary rules for all those involved in the distribution or use of pesticides. Its scope, which has been extended to cover pesticides used in public health and vector control, is crucial, particularly where national legislation is lacking.
The Montreal Protocol, which Burundi joined in 1997, completes this framework by aiming to reduce and eliminate substances that deplete the ozone layer. Burundi appears to be complying with these regulations, as there have been no cases of non-compliance.
As a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Burundi is committed to complying with the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement). This agreement regulates food safety standards, animal health and plant protection in international trade. Burundi is a member of the standardisation bodies that define SPS methodologies, namely the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the IPPC.
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), signed by Burundi in 2006, is an essential international agreement for plant health. Its aim is to protect cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of harmful organisms. Burundi already has IPPC-compliant legislation, and the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock (MINEAGRIE) is the official contact point for its implementation.
Note that all these political, regulatory and institutional provisions demonstrate Burundi’s clear desire to control the use of pesticides. However, the Inades-Formation study stresses the need for constant vigilance and capacity building to ensure optimal application of these frameworks, thereby guaranteeing the protection of public health and the environment for future generations. ABP/Denis NTIHINDAGIZWA