Wrangling over label :

Local BTI in limbo

*Registrar wants poison in label

*Company says BTI not poisonous

Chaminda PERERA

The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), the company involved in the production of BTI and Registrar of Pesticides appear to have got entangled in a debate over the label to introduce them to the local market. The ITI and the company involved in the production of BTI bacteria is yet to receive permission for the label from the Registrar of Pesticide to introduce them to the local market. The ITI and the company have succeeded in removing all bottlenecks that stood in the process of this BTI bacteria production in Sri Lanka.

The Registrar of Pesticides granted temporary permission to the particular company for the production of BTI bacteria in Sri Lanka last month on condition that the company should carry out some specified tests over the bacteria within six months. The permission issued by the Registrar of Pesticides has restricted the issue of this bacteria to the local market.

According to the Registrar’s permission, this product can only be used by the Health Ministry officials.

An ITI scientist told the Daily News that the company has started production of the BTI bacteria. The Institute jointly with the company have forwarded a sample of the label for their consideration. But discussion are still going on over the words that should appear in the label, she said.

However, Acting Registrar of Pesticide Champa Manage yesterday told the Daily News that this product comes under the Pesticides Control Act and therefore it should carry the word ‘poisonous’.

“We are bound to implement the provisions of the Pesticides Control Act for the benefit of the people and lable of the product should comply with the provisions of the Act. “Manage said. She said the company has forwarded a sample of the label under which it intends to introduce their products to the market. “We have given our approval with some amendments, she said. Meanwhile, Company Director, Kumar Devanayagam yesterday said that the BTI bacteria product is not harmful to the public and asked why the label should carry the word ‘poisonous’.