Ecologists are to bring an action against the Economic Development and Trade Ministry of Ukraine with a demand for a ban on the use of zinc phosphide in Ukraine.
“Our next action is a rally at the Economic Development and Trade Ministry entitled “the Funerals of Hamsters and Gophers.” Moreover, we’re bringing an action against the ministry, because it’s simultaneously violating three Ukrainian laws and three international conventions,” Head of Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Center Volodymyr Boreyko said at a press conference on Thursday.
“We want Ukraine to prohibit the use of zinc phosphide. It’s a very easy thing to do, Ecology Minister Eduard Stavytsky just has to sign an order,” the ecologist said.
At the same time he noted that ecologists have already won eight cases against the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry in the courts.
As Boreyko reported, there is a list of permitted pesticides and phosphates in the official publication of the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry, among which are chemicals that contain zinc phosphide.
According to him, Russia, Belarus and other CIS countries have prohibited the use of zinc phosphide.
According to Boreyko, the chemical is officially used for fighting rodents and for protecting crops against pests. However, the municipal services of all Ukrainian cities use it for controlling stray animals. The action of this chemical leads to an agonizing death for the animal, which takes several hours, Boreyko said.
