Summary of the Briefing Note on 'Pesticide Use in Lao PDR: Health and Environmental Impacts', for presentation at Meeting of the Sector Working Group for Agriculture and Rural Development, Vientiane, 28 March 2018

1. Andrew Bartlett
Team Leader & Policy Adviser
Lao Upland Rural Advisory Service
Briefing Note
Pesticide use in Lao PDR
Health and Environmental Impacts
Sector Working Group
Agriculture and Rural Development
Vientiane, 28 Mar 2018

2. Background
 The Lao Upland Rural Advisory Service has cooperated
with a number of organisations to collect data:
 Surveys of pesticide sales and use by farmers
 Residue tests on fruits & veg, local and imported
 Blood & urine tests of farmers, school children, consumers
 Laboratory analysis of soil and water samples
 Other sources that have been consulted include MAF-
DOA, MONRE, FAO, SUFORD, TABI, IWMI, and SAEDA.
 This is the second Briefing Note produced by LURAS. The
first was Rassapong, S. (2016) Pesticides: A Cause for
Concern.

3. Selected data
 Legal imports of pesticides have increased by over 1,000% in
past 10 years; a similar increase in informal trade is assumed.
 Application rates are consistently 2-4 times higher than
recommended.
 In Xieng Khouang, PAFO screened 616 samples of fruit and
veg. 54% tested positive for residues, 16% at unsafe levels.
 Imported produce appears worse than locally produced, with
74% testing positive.
 Blood tests of nearly 1,000 people in Xieng Khouang showed
that 96% tested positive, 35% were at unsafe levels
 Consumers such as government officials had higher levels of
contamination than farmers!

4. Conclusions
 Pesticide contamination of the food system is now
widespread in Laos.
 Socio-economic costs undoubtedly exist, although precise
levels have yet to be determined:
 chronic impact on health and productivity
 loss of biodiversity and associated food sources
 potential trade restrictions
 unnecessary costs to farmers and regulatory agencies
 Food safety should be seen as a cross-cutting
development issue.

5. What can we do?
 We have a systemic problem which requires a systemic
response ie. coordinated efforts from agriculture, health,
education, environment and commerce
 Laos has a wealth of successful experience in sustainable
agriculture. These solutions need to be scaled up.
 Consumer awareness-raising is urgently needed to reduce
exposure of the most vulnerable groups, especially
pregnant women and children.
 A capacity for regular/ reliable testing must be developed
to inform producers, consumers and regulators
 More data is needed but we cannot wait to act.

6. Copies freely available