Ecosystem damaged by UPL chemical fire.

While UPL blame rioters for the cause of the fire, and residents and authorities blame UPL for not having the necessary permits, very little or nothing has been said about why these harmful products, that are banned in most parts of the world, are being sold here in South Africa?

UPL will most likely either get a slap on the wrist or a negligible fine in comparison to the profits they make. They might be forced to move slightly further away into another industrial park, this time with the necessary permits in place.

What seems to be amiss, and what we as a company can’t come to terms with, is that South Africa should have the same type of laws in place as they have in Europe, Unites States of America and other parts of the world preventing these harmful chemicals entering the country. To get some understanding of the lack of updated legislative framework to regulate agrochemical companies clicking on the button/link below to read The Daily Mavericks article titled “Poison on a plate”.  Our outdated legislation framework dates back to 1998, and the lack of an updated legislative frame work protecting consumers is attributed to the capture of the sector by industry, and because “social progress has been sidelined in South Africa for nearly a decade due to corruption”.

amaBhungane, an investigative journalism organization focusing primarily on exposing political corruption in South Africa obtained and posted on their website the list of harmful pesticides. What amaBhungane’s investigation has confirmed is that the 14 000m2 warehouse held millions of liters of chemicals, some classified as “harmful”, “toxic” or “very toxic”.

For more detail on this and a comprehensive list of all the chemicals, click on the button below.

Some 13 chemicals were highlighted in the article and are listed below :

- Masta 900, an insecticide containing the “very potent neurotoxin” methomyl for which “contact with skin, inhalation of dust or spray, or swallowing may be fatal.”

- Methamidophos, also a “very potent neurotoxin”.

- Paraquat herbicide which poses “high risk for all life forms”.

- Terbufos, another “very toxic” chemical presenting “high risk to all forms of life”.

- Products containing tebuthiuron, a chemical classified as “very toxic to aquatic life … with long lasting effects” sold under a variety of brand names including Lava 800 and Limpopo SC.

- Potassium hydroxide and ammonia hydroxide, both intermediate products used in manufacturing that are “extremely caustic” chemicals that burn skin on contact.

- Cyprex, a “highly active herbicide” containing halosulfuron-methyl, a product that “may damage the unborn child”, according to the European Chemicals Agency.

- Triclon, a product containing triclopyr butotyl and classified as “flammable, harmful and environmentally hazardous” and that “may cause lung damage if swallowed”.

- MSMA 720, also known as monosodium methylarsonate which has been shown to have “limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect”, and over time converts to inorganic arsenic in soil with the potential to contaminate water sources.

- Oxamyl-based insecticides, including products Bandito and Oxadate, that also present “high risk for all life forms”.

- Tenazole, containing “extremely flammable” fungicide terbuconazole.

- Colloso, a fungicide containing the active ingredient carbendazim which “may cause heritable genetic damage”, “may impair fertility”, and “may cause harm to unborn child”.

These are just 13 of the chemicals on UPL’s inventory; there are over 700 line items on the list, including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides. One of the pesticides listed above is paraquat, a substance so dangerous that one sip can be lethal. It was first marketed in 1962 but has been banned in the EU since 2007 and in Switzerland since 1989 on the grounds that it is too dangerous for European farmers, even when wearing protective equipment.

It would seem that everything has died down somewhat around this event. How quickly things fall out of view in our land. A distant court date will be set, with a protracted legal procedures and legal stone walling, and what really should be happening while waiting for the outcome of UPL disaster, is further investigation into who UPL’s customers are, which of these farmers/growers are using these harmful pesticides, as it’s ending up on our plates. Are there any other companies like UPL that are bringing these harmful pesticides into the country, I am sure there are many and focusing only on UPL will not change this in South Africa. Whatever has happened to our constitutional rights to life, dignity, an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being?