CSR for Consumer safety: What should companies do for consumer safety of household insecticide?Ms. Premila Kumar

Consumer Council of Fiji

Presentation Outline

Household Pesticides Survey in Fiji Are Companies taking responsibility for

the impact of their activities? Unfair Trade Practices CSR- What should Companies Do?

Household Pesticides Survey in Fiji

Fiji participated in the Household pesticide survey- 2007

Household pesticides readily available in supermarkets and remote stores in the rural areas

All household pesticides are imported in to Fiji

Pesticides are sourced from countries such as Australia, India, Indonesia, China.

Household Pesticides Survey in Fiji

Prices are high for Fiji standard.

Example Hit (India) 200g is sold for US $2.25 whereas Mortein (Aust) is sold for US $2.40 for 300g.

Companies at Different Stages of Supply Chain

Producers Importers Distributors Retailers Pest Control Professionals or Applicators

An important sector of business is not simply reacting to pressure or engaging in defensive posturing or ‘greenwash.

Role of Business

In developed countries the role of business has evolved from profit maximizing approach to a social responsibility.

This is not the case in most developing countries.

Are Companies taking responsibility for the impact

of their activities? Not at all because the pesticides are not made in Fiji.

Fiji imports and it is difficult to hold the importer, distributor or retailer responsible due to ineffective laws

Fiji being a small island economy relies heavily on imports with poor border control.

Unfair Trade Practices

In 1992 DDT-containing mosquito coils were imported into Fiji in improperly labeled packages.

Increased monitoring of imported mosquito coils

The task of identifying the DDT- contaminated coils

Products banned or recalled in other countries makes its way into Pacific undetected.

What should Companies Do?

Race to the Bottom: Companies should behave ethically in a country with poorly regulated countries as they would do in their own country.

At least the companies should not push banned pesticides into countries with poor regulations

Provide users with instructions that are designed to minimise impacts on health and environment.

Provide consumer, with enough information to make informed choices about protecting the health their family while properly caring their lawn or their homes.

What should Companies Do?

Companies should not mislead consumers by making health claims. That is by treating products such as toothbrushes or children's toys, with antimicrobial pesticides (to get rid of bacteria) without approval.

What should Companies Do?

Be part of the Consumer Labeling Initiative (CLI)

CLI is a voluntary, cooperative effort designed to present clear, consistent, and useful environmental, safe use, and health information on household consumer product labels

Research & Development