Justice in Colombia halts aerial fumigation pilot program in Putumayo
The Third Promiscuous Circuit Court of Puerto Asís, in the department of Putumayo, has issued a provisional measure that halts the pilot plan for aerial fumigation proposed by the Colombian Government. This initiative sought to resume the use of aircraft for the eradication of illicit crops, a practice that had remained suspended for years due to serious public health and environmental concerns.
The judicial decision responds to a guardianship action filed by a citizen, which puts a pause on the spraying activities scheduled in the region. The government project intended to use ammonium glufosinate, a herbicide classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as moderately hazardous and whose application is not permitted in the European Union.
Details of the suspended initiative
The Government’s plan was designed under an experimental, limited, and temporary scheme. According to initial projections, the intervention intended to cover up to 1,000 hectares over a maximum period of seven days. Authorities argued that the purpose was not a total reactivation of fumigations, but rather the collection of scientific evidence regarding the product’s efficacy and its impact on the environment.
Historical context of eradication in Colombia
- In 2015, under the administration of Juan Manuel Santos, the use of glyphosate was suspended following health alerts.
- The Constitutional Court ratified this suspension years later, prioritizing the health of rural farming communities.
- Since then, the country has focused its efforts on manual eradication and voluntary crop substitution programs.
The possibility of re-implementing aerial spraying has been a subject of intense debate in Colombia. While the State seeks new tools to combat the expansion of illicit crops, communities and judicial authorities maintain a vigilant stance regarding the risks that these substances could pose to the ecosystem and the physical integrity of the inhabitants in the intervened areas.
