Environmental Health in Israel | 2014

Progress and Challenges  Between 2012 and 2014, the MoAg phased out 18 active ingredients and limited the use of 10 additional active ingredients of organophosphate, triazine, carbamate and organochlorine pesticides.  In early 2014, the MoEP submitted new legislation to the Knesset addressing training and licensing of pesticide applicators. In addition, the MoEP is currently updating regulations that limit aerial and ground application of pesticides near residences. Enactment of this legislation and the institution of new regulations is expected to improve the regulatory framework for pesticide use in Israel.  There are four inter-ministerial committees responsible for providing recommendations on pesticide registration. The State Comptroller, in his annual report, noted in 2002 and 2011 that consideration should be given to merging these committees in order to ensure uniform criteria for pesticide registration. As of 2014, unification of the committees has not been implemented.  Because of concerns regarding potential negative health effects, the inter-ministerial committees are developing a list of permitted co-formulants in pesticide formulations.  There are major challenges in enforcement of proper pesticide use in Israel. The State Comptroller’s Report from 2011 addresses this issue at length, including the challenges involved in supervising the sale and use of agricultural pesticides in residential settings. Illegal use of an agricultural pesticide (phosphine) in a residential building in Jerusalem in 2014 led to the death of two children and the injury of two additional children from the same family.  There is a need for data and monitoring regarding public exposure to pesticides. Such monitoring is needed in areas where there is geographic proximity between the treated agricultural areas and population centers, with an emphasis on sensitive populations (kindergartens, schools, etc.). The MoH will monitor the impact of policy to reduce public exposure to organophosphate pesticides by continuing to test for pesticide residues in agricultural produce and by using biomonitoring.  Today, there is no database in Israel on poisoning from pesticides. At the Israel Poison Information Center at Rambam Hospital, data are collected on calls to the Center regarding poisoning. These data do not fully reflect the scope of pesticide poisoning due to incomplete reporting. Environmental Health in Israel 2014  Chapter 5 - 44 -