Gov't bans pesticides violating international standards

Egypt's Minister of Agriculture Ahmed el-Leithy has decided to only allow the production of pesticides that meet international standards.

The minister told reporters Friday that pesticides should be up to the standards set by international bodies such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Any pesticide will only be registered if it proves to be safe after a three-year test peroid, he added.

The minister said Egypt has banned 47 pesticides used in Europe and the United States because they did not meet basic standards.