Situation Report on Chlorpyrifos in Russia

Analysis of chlorpyrifos production and use in Russia has shown widespread use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs), including Chlorpyrifos, Bifenthrin and Cypermethrin. These substances are on the list of HHPs prepared by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) and meet the HHP criteria adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The HHPs are defined by WHO and FAO as “pesticides that are acknowledged to present particularly high levels of acute or chronic hazards to health or environment according to internationally accepted classification systems such as WHO or Global Harmonized System (GHS) or their listing in relevant binding international agreements or conventions. In addition, pesticides that appear to cause severe or irreversible harm to health or the environment under conditions of use in a country may be considered to be and treated as highly hazardous.”

As of January 2020, 106 pesticides used in Russia are on the list of highly hazardous pesticides according to PAN criteria. 38 HHPs are unregistered or banned worldwide, according to the PAN consolidated list. For example, chlorpyrifos is banned in Palestine, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Vietnam.

The current report on chlorpyrifos production and use is the first overview of this highly hazardous pesticide produced, imported, and used in Russia in agriculture and indoors. The information package for sharing with the Russian Ministry of Agriculture also included a request to phase out chlorpyrifos-containing pesticides to protect people, prioritizing children’s health.

This project relates to the Sustainable Development Goals 2,3,6, 8, 14 and 15.

Special thanks to IPEN's Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia (EECCA) Regional Coordinator Dr. Olga Speranskaya and EECCA Regional Hub Eco-Accord, and the lead organization developing this report, Eco-SPES, for their important contributions to the development and finalization of the project.