The Food and Agricultural Organisation (fao) has promised "substantial financial support" to help Tanzania dispose of about 1,000 tonnes of pesticides stored in the country's warehouses. These chemicals had come from developed nations, mostly through foreign aid programmes.
The government's announcement about the fao assistance followed allegations of "excessive negligence" in permitting Tanzania to be used as a dumping destination for expired pesticides. The authorities claim that a law has now been enacted to prohibit the import of pesticides nearing their expiry dates.
The fao aid is part of the African Stockpile Programme to tackle hazardous pesticides. D eveloping countries are estimated to house more than 100,000 tonnes of obsolete pesticides, of which 20,000 tonnes are in Africa.
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