Registrar of Pesticides: Lannate is For Agricultural Use Only

While the Registrar of Pesticides says that she cannot confirm at this time which lannate pesticide was used, she knows that there are three different formulations registered for use in Belize. But, how did Santos get access to the chemical? Ochaeta-Serrut says that there are limited options of pesticides for household use and so the board finds the incident concerning because lannate is for agricultural use only. And so, an investigation is being launched.

Miriam Ochaeta-Serrut

Miriam Ochaeta-Serrut, Registrar of Pesticides, Pesticide Control Board

“Assuming that the incident occurred with the person using one of the three registered products in the country, we would like to know where he bought it and who recommended that use to him because it is a big issue, it is a serious issue that concerns us a lot that pesticide retailers are recommending pesticides that are intended for agricultural use, they are recommending it for other uses. That practice has got to stop. It really has got to stop. Companies who register these pesticides and who import these pesticides and who sell these pesticides they are bound by a code of ethics established by the FAO International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management. They know very well. Nobody is ignorant to that fact in that sector. They know about this. It is their stewardship responsibility to ensure that they make no recommendations contrary to the label. So that’s the first thing we will want to know; how did this use come about?”