The National System of Conservation Areas (Sinac) issued a guideline, which prohibits the use of glyphosate in the 11 Protected Wild Areas (ASP) of the country, as well as in the institution’s offices.
Glyphosate is a herbicide widely used in Costa Rica. But it has been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as probably carcinogenic to humans.
According to the Sinac, the prohibition is carried out in response to article 50 of the Political Constitution. It states that “the State must ensure the greatest possible well-being for all the inhabitants of the country, guarantee and preserve the right of people to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment, promoting development in harmony with it”.
“Broad-spectrum herbicides such as glyphosate eliminate not only so-called weeds but also plants that depend on insect species for food and cause damage to vegetation”, said Sinac executive director, Grettel Vega, last Wednesday. “Therefore, as an institution committed to the environment, we must lead efforts to counteract these types of threats”, Vega added.
From now on, in all the chemicals acquired by Sinac, it should be indicated that in its chemical composition it does not contain glyphosate. The guideline is mandatory. Other institutions such as the State Distance University (UNED), University of Costa Rica (UCR) and the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC), have already eradicated the use of this type of agrochemical.
In September of the current year, the Ombudsman’s Office requested that a health alert be issued for the inappropriate and illegal use of glyphosate and paraquat herbicides, as well as other pesticides for professional use, both in public and private spaces.
In the world, there is much controversy and concern about the use of glyphosate. This year, Germany announced that it will ban the use of the controversial herbicide from the end of 2023.
In the United States, there are several lawsuits open against Monsanto, producer of this herbicide, and currently a subsidiary of the German chemical-pharmaceutical corporation, Bayer.
