I think you’re right that industry pushback/inertia is a key consideration, and that pesticide suicides are a much more tangible harm to motivate regulation.
However, I think things are much more uncertain than you suggest. Industry have been quite on-board with the related international movement against ‘highly hazardous pesticides’ and the optics of ‘slowly poisoning pregnant women and reducing their kids’ potential’ may be a compelling narrative for regulatory action.
But I really don’t know—I’d be very interested to see what CPSP staff reckon.
Okay fair. And I just remembered something during my research that strengthens your point—there are a few papers critiquing the neurotoxic effect of organophosphates. And if memory serves all of them were authored by and/or sponsored by the pesticide industry. So there is pre-existing industry pushback!
I briefly worked in a research consortium which worked on the EUs precautionary principle, which is under attack by industry: they’re basically raising the bar for evidence and definitely push back against regulation a lot.
I think you’re right that industry pushback/inertia is a key consideration, and that pesticide suicides are a much more tangible harm to motivate regulation.
However, I think things are much more uncertain than you suggest. Industry have been quite on-board with the related international movement against ‘highly hazardous pesticides’ and the optics of ‘slowly poisoning pregnant women and reducing their kids’ potential’ may be a compelling narrative for regulatory action.
But I really don’t know—I’d be very interested to see what CPSP staff reckon.
Okay fair. And I just remembered something during my research that strengthens your point—there are a few papers critiquing the neurotoxic effect of organophosphates. And if memory serves all of them were authored by and/or sponsored by the pesticide industry. So there is pre-existing industry pushback!
I briefly worked in a research consortium which worked on the EUs precautionary principle, which is under attack by industry: they’re basically raising the bar for evidence and definitely push back against regulation a lot.
See eg this: https://corporateeurope.org/en/environment/2018/12/innovation-principle-trap
I am not super clear on the delineation between DNT pesticides and suicide-risk pesticides and their relative importance so I’ll defer to you.