The local government regulated the use of agrochemicals in Entre Rios. This was done by officially implementing the regulation of the Protocol for the Application of Phytosanitary Products.
Strict guidelines for the use of agrochemicals in rural and peri-urban areas are established there.
The measure aims to guarantee the protection of human health, biodiversity, and natural resources, in a context of growing concern and questioning about the effects.
What does the new legal framework say about the use of agrochemicals in Entre Rios
The regulated protocol is framed within the provisions of Decree 4,477/18, which establishes technical and legal criteria for ground and aerial application of phytosanitary products.
This new regulation aims to strengthen controls, minimum application distances, and safety conditions for operators and rural communities.
Among the key points, the following stand out:
-
Mandatory implementation of digital agronomic prescriptions.
-
Creation of a registry of authorized applicators.
-
Establishment of buffer zones to protect rural schools, watercourses, and residences.
-
Use of georeferencing systems for monitoring applications.
It also regulates aerial application of agrochemicals.
Citizen participation and environmental monitoring
The regulation includes mechanisms for citizen complaints and the involvement of provincial agencies such as the Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock, the Directorate of Natural Resources, and the Environmental Health Area.
Furthermore, progress will be made in creating a public database, where applications made in each department will be recorded.
It also includes the promotion of good agricultural practices, focusing on productive sustainability and the rational use of agrochemicals, minimizing environmental impact and prioritizing alternative pest management methods.
The regulation arises after years of demands from rural communities, environmental organizations, and groups of teachers, who denounce the health and environmental risks associated with fumigations near schools and populated centers.
The regulation aims to balance agricultural production with public health and environmental care. This in a scenario where the pressure for higher yields coexists with demands for a transition to agroecological models.
The recent law
Application of agrochemicals in Entre Rios.
The regulation comes months after the approval of Law 26,117 on the application of agrochemicals, passed by a majority of 15 votes in favor and 2 against in December.
The project was discussed in several joint meetings of the Production, Environment, and Sustainable Development Committees, and the Public Health and Drug Addiction Committee of the Senate.
Originally proposed by the Executive Power in 2022, it was taken up in the current legislature and received preliminary approval in October of this year. Despite the positive aspects highlighted, different environmental organizations expressed their opposition to the modifications.
They criticized that it only promised economic development, and that it paid little attention to social, health, and environmental problems, as they are not part of any economic equation, explained the General Association of Teachers of Entre Rios.
