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Dole to phase out use of herbicide Paraquat
Posted by Editor | October 10, 2007 | Categories: Environment | Comments Off
 Banana plantation housing adjoining the fields near Sixaola |
Dole Food Company, Inc., the global fruit giant has announced they are phasing out the use of the highly-toxic herbicide Paraquat. The herbicide is being phased out immediately in all locations except Costa Rica where they will delay the phase-out until June 30th, 2008. Dole says the phase-out is in response to “market demands” but the reality is that the a recent European Union court decision recently banned completely the use or sale of Paraquat in the EU.
Dole is the major producer of bananas in Costa Rica as well as other products. In the Puerto Viejo area, you can see the banana plantations stretching from Bribri to Sixaola at the Panama border along highway. Some local workers commute from banana plantatin communities
The herbicide is highly toxic to workers when they are exposed to it. Dole though says that it is not immediately phasing it out here, it will continue to only be applied by mechanized devices.
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