The Supreme Court of Justice of Buenos Aires ordered the suspension of the use of agrochemicals in the municipalities of Tandil and Rauch.
The precautionary measure responds to the claim of residents of the Chapaleoufú Basin, concerned about applications near homes and schools.
The highest court in Buenos Aires accepted the opinion of the Attorney General, Julio Conte Grand, who recommended suspending the municipal ordinances that regulate spraying.
The decision affects applications made at distances considered insufficient by the complainants.
The scope of the judicial measure against agrochemicals
The precautionary suspension applies to parts of the ordinances that establish minimum distances for the application of agrochemicals.
These regulations govern spraying near homes, schools, and watercourses in both districts.
Additionally, the Court’s secretary, Juan José Martiarena, demanded that mayors Miguel Ángel Lunghi (Tandil) and Maximiliano Suescun (Rauch) submit the background information.
Now, they have a peremptory period of ten days to present the documentation that originated the respective ordinances.
After that, the court will have to analyze these backgrounds before issuing a final ruling on the case.
The distances for spraying in debate
In Tandil, a regulation approved in 2021 established specific exclusion and buffer zones. The distances were set at:
- 60 meters of exclusion zone
- 800 meters of buffer zone
- 150 meters of exclusion for rural educational establishments
- 500 meters of buffer for schools
The ordinance also required the installation of forest barriers, agreement on application schedules with institutions, and spraying with schools empty.
However, the residents who are part of the NGO “Environmental Defenders of the Chapaleofú Basin” demand greater distances.
In particular, they demand 1095 meters for ground applications and 2000 meters for aerial ones, similar to what is stipulated in Pergamino.
In response, the Attorney General’s opinion recognized the legitimacy of the residents’ claim.
In addition to Tandil and Rauch, the demand includes the Tandil localities of Gardey and Vela.
The impact on agricultural production
Against social support, the Rural Society warned about the economic consequences of the measure, while rural producers consider the distances demanded by the residents to be exaggerated.
According to the entity, thousands of agricultural hectares in Tandil would be unable to be sown using conventional methods.
This is because, currently, these production systems use phytosanitary products to combat pests, weeds, and diseases in crops.
For now, the suspension seeks to protect the health of the population while the conflict is resolved.
Now, the Court will have to evaluate the technical studies and background presented by both municipalities.
The final decision will determine the definitive distances for the application of agrochemicals in the region.
