COPF approves Gazette allowing imports of glyphosate

The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has approved the Gazette with regulations under the Import and Export (Control) Act permitting the importation of glyphosate.



The regulations enacted under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969 regarding the permission to import glyphosate, which is used as a weed killer for the plantation sector, were recently considered in the Committee on Public Finance. After a long discussion, the Committee approved importation.  

The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance approved it during its meeting on Friday under the chairmanship of MP Dr. Harsha De Silva.

The Extraordinary Gazette No. 2291/44, which includes these regulations, was submitted to Parliament for approval yesterday. According to this Gazette, import licenses for glyphosate will be issued subject to the recommendation of the Registrar of Pesticides.

Dr. de Silva also said that although the approval of the Public Finance committee has been obtained for these regulations, it will be given with conditions. He pointed out that further decisions should be taken after holding a wide discussion on the report prepared, after discussing the use of glyphosate in Sri Lanka’s plantation crops with the officials of the relevant ministries and institutions according to the recommendation of the Finance Committee.

He also emphasised that draft bills and other by-laws to be submitted for Parliament’s approval should be received by the Public Finance Committee in advance and approval should be given only after extensive discussion.

Although the import of glyphosate is banned, considering the possible health effects of the weed killer in plantations, the need for limited imports of glyphosate was discussed due to the obstacles in the exportation of tea and rubber crops and the need to control the disease of coconut leaf wilt in Weligama.

The MPs and the officials expressed their opinions regarding the health and environmental impact caused by the herbicide. Chairman emphasised the need to hold a wide discussion about this in future and take decisions.

Minister Vidura Wickramanayaka, Parliament Members Vijitha Herath, Shehan Semasinghe, Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, Dr. Suren Raghavan, M.A. Sumanthiran, Harshana Rajakaruna, Chaminda Wijesiri, Anupa Pasqual and Prof. Ranjith Bandara participated in the discussions.

Officials of the Ministry of Finance, Import and Export Control Department, Ministry of Plantation Industry, Ministry of Agriculture and Pesticides Registrar’s Office also participated in this meeting, and the officials of the Ministry of Health joined the discussion online.