US embassy cable - 05ROME1451

UNCLAS  ROME 001451 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR IO/EDA, AF/W, NEA/ENA, OES/ENV; PASS EPA 
USAID FOR DCHA, OFDA GOTTLIEB AND AFR LAVELLE 
USDA FOR FAS HUGHES 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH/USAID 
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, SENV, XI, XY, UN, FAO 
SUBJECT: PESTICIDE OVERSTOCKS: FAO LETTER TO LOCUST 
COMMUNITY 
 
REF: (A) 04 ROME 0722; (B) 04 ROME 3979; (C) 04 ROME 
3581; (D) 05 ROME 0764 
 
1. Summary. The United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) alerted USUN Rome to a potential 
problem with pesticides overstocks in Sahelian and North 
African countries currently embattling desert locusts, 
via a letter (see below) to affected countries and the 
donor community to enable posts and donors to respond. 
USUN Rome appreciates guidance, as pesticides overstocks 
will be an agenda item at the May 3, 2005, Geneva Group 
meeting it is hosting. End Summary. 
 
2. Background. In preparation for the spring-summer 2005 
desert locust control campaign, the United Nations (UN) 
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been actively 
engaged in contingency planning, including developing a 
country-by-country matrix on equipment/supplies to review 
resources available and identify gaps. One item 
meticulously being tracked is stocks of pesticides 
currently available in affected countries.  Working with 
national planners in each of the front-line countries, 
FAO is conducting detailed, comprehensive inventories of 
pesticide stocks, and noted alarmingly high levels of 
stock in some countries. Depending on the magnitude of 
the 2005 campaign, the excess stocks potentially could 
pose a problem, which will need to be addressed later on 
in terms of environmentally correct disposal and/or 
storage. End Background. 
 
3. To avoid a further build up of pesticide stocks 
through bilateral donations, as occurred in March 2005 
when Moroccan King Mohamed VI donated 250,000 liters to 
Senegal, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf sent a letter 
dated April 16, 2005, to affected countries and members 
of the desert locust donor community to generate better 
coordination.  The text of the letter follows: 
 
Begin text-- 
 
--I have the honour to draw your attention to the 
important role played by pesticides during the Desert 
Locust campaign of 2004. In order to avoid the build-up 
of excess stocks of pesticides, while ensuring that 
urgent pesticide needs were met, the Food and Agriculture 
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) drew up a list 
of pesticides with least harmful effects on public health 
and the environment and established a coordination 
network with the locust affected countries. 
 
--Despite these efforts at coordination among partners, 
especially to avoid an excess stock of pesticides at the 
end of the campaign, the current pesticide stocks are 
estimated at 2 million litres in the Sahelian countries 
and at least 3.5 million litres in the North African 
countries. These stocks vary from 100 000 to 800 000 
litres in the Sahelian countries. FAO considers the 
remaining stocks in certain countries far too large. 
 
--As early as the end of October/beginning of November 
2004, FAO informed all partners (international agencies 
and donor countries) that the available stocks of 
 
 
pesticides were sufficient to face any potential invasion 
in 2005 and that FAO had an efficient system for the 
procurement and supply of pesticides to respond to any 
emergency situation. 
 
--I was recently informed that some bilateral donations 
of pesticides were received in 2005, even after the end 
of the Desert Locust campaign, and further donations are 
foreseen. I should like to draw your attention to the 
potential risk of these pesticides becoming obsolete. 
 
--I should also like to take the opportunity to inform 
you that the use of these available pesticide 
formulations is specific to Desert Locust control and 
that these pesticides should be kept under appropriate 
storage conditions. If not, they could rapidly become 
obsolete, and the onerous cost of disposal would be added 
to that of the impact upon human health and the 
environment. 
 
--Finally, I would like to share with you and with the 
other international agencies and donor countries my 
concern regarding this issue and to reiterate the 
continuous efforts made by FAO regarding the actual 
pesticide needs for the region within the Desert Locust 
control campaign of 2004. In this respect, I appeal for 
better coordination among all partners to avoid local 
purchases or bilateral donation of pesticides in the near 
future. 
 
--I thank you for your cooperation with FAO in combating 
this pest and wish to compliment you on your efforts in 
regional assistance in Desert Locust control, especially 
with regard to the protection of human health and the 
environment. 
 
End Text 
 
4. FAO notes that increased attention to proper storage 
of remaining pesticide stocks would be required in all 
scenarios (best, worst and most probable case of locust 
infestation).  Further, the best-case scenario may not 
necessarily be the cheapest, as significant expenses will 
have to be incurred regardless to properly store 
operative or dispose of obsolete pesticides. 
 
5. Comment and action requested: USUN Rome Ambassador 
Hall is hosting a Geneva Group meeting on May 3, 2005, at 
which the subject of FAO Director-General Diouf's letter 
will be raised with the FAO donor community. Comments 
from posts in affected countries as well as guidance from 
USG agencies are invited.  USUN Rome aims to encourage 
better donor communication and coordination on this 
issue. 
 
6. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED 
 
 
HALL 
 
 
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	2005ROME01451 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED