Daily News Archive Union Aldicarb Phase-Out: A mixed bag On
March 18, The European Union signed an agreement to phase out
use of the deadly insecticide aldicarb, but eight member states
--including Spain, France, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Portugal,
United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands - will continue to use
aldicarb until the end of 2007. Aldicarb is a carbamate
pesticide largely considered one of the most acutely hazardous
still used. It is a highly toxic pesticide and is classified by
the World Health Organization as "extremely hazardous". Unlike
most carbamates, aldicarb is extremely toxic through dermal
exposure. The European Council had proposed that all aldicarb
products be withdrawn within an 18-month period, but the UK and
some other member states opposed this. Under a new weaker
proposal, aldicarb products will still be withdrawn within 18
months, but certain "essential uses" in the eight member states
will continue to be authorized until December 31, 2007.
Aldicarb, used to prevent crop loss due to