By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
Published on February 18, 2009

Industry Ministry regulations listing 13 herbal plants as "hazardous substances" are threatening an opportunity to place a Thai pesticide on the world market, a herbal researcher claims.

Anchalee Sa-Nguanpong said the controversy was threatening investor support for her discovery of the neem extract as a pesticide.

Anchalee, a herbal researcher at Rajamangala University of Technology's department of agricultural technology, said she had been approached by a Sara Buri based investor following her development of the high quality neem extract.

But after the Industry Ministry issued its new regulation listing 13 herbal plants, including neem, as hazardous substances, the investor had lost confidence because of confusion over the regulation.

He plans to invest Bt 47 million to produce the neem extract as a herbal pesticide for the world market, especially Japan, the biggest buyer for this product, where it is used to kill insects on golf courses.


She said he will continue to produce neem, but the Industry Ministry's use of the word "hazardous" to categorise 13 herbal plants as dangerous has made the project very sensitive.

" If they want to promote the use of herbal pesticides instead of chemical substances, why don't they use words that sound more friendly for everyone?" Anchalee said.

The regulation to list 13 herbal plants as hazardous substances type 1 under the 1992 Hazardous Substances Act was imposed on February 3 by the Industry Ministry, who said it aimed to control pesticide production.

The Public Health Ministry has since called for the regulation to be revoked - but the Industry Ministry has not yet acted to remove the herbs from the list.

The listed plants are: neem, citronella grass, tumeric, ginger, Chinese ginger, African marigold, Siam weed or bitter bush, tea seed cake, chilli, Chinese celery, ringworn bush, glory lily and stemona - widely

used among farmers as alternatives for expensive and toxic farm chemicals, pesticides and herbicides.

Growers, manufacturers, importers and exporters of pesticides made from the 13 herbal plants are required to follow safety and quality control regulations issued by the hazardous substances committee. Law violators will face six months in jail and a fine of 50,000 baht.

According to the Pesticide Action Network, an organisation working to reduce the use of hazardous pesticides worldwide, neem is classified as a botanical substance. The International Foundation for Organic Agriculture also describes neem as a herbal plant safe for humans.

To motivate investment in producing herbal products, Anchalee suggested the Industry Ministry use words such as 'botanical' instead of 'hazardous' to restore confidence among investors.

"To the world,it is ridiculous," she said.

The National Innovation Agency's director, Supachai Lorlowhakarn, who supports funding for Anchalees's project, said:

"The regulation would cut opportunities for investors in herbal products and also destroy the country's image. Suppose the world was to hear that the famous Thai food tom yam kung is dangerous? It contains chilli, which is classified as a hazardous substance under the Hazardous Substances Act," he said.

By The Nation On 20 Feb 2009

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