CONTRIBUIÇÃO DOS SISTEMAS DA QUALIDADE PARA O CONTROLE DE RISCOS À SAÚDE E AO MEIO AMBIENTE PELO USO DE AGROTÓXICOS

Abstract

Synthetic substances resulting from chemical manipulation are potential hazards for health and environment. Such substances are essential for the modern Societies that relay on them to survive on XXI century and afterwards. No standing this dependence, and much because of that, Societies demand for safety more and more along time. In between the synthetic substances the agro toxic hazards take a major role. The risk of an agro toxic and of its residue in feedstock and in environment shall be evaluated considering the possibility that it may cause prejudice for life beyond its target. An agro toxic shall be commercialized only if the risks comply with the Society safety requirements established on legal base. The central question on agro toxic safety related to health and environment does not exhaust in itself. There are secondary commercial effects on agro toxic industry and on feedstock world trade with important consequences on Brazil as one of the main players as exporting source. The agro toxic and residue risk evaluation requires objective laboratory evidence. The contribution of the Quality Systems to this demand for safety is focused on test results and on the Organizations that provide such services. There are two main contributing Quality Systems. The ISO Quality System through the ISO-IEC 17025:1999 standard may be applied to the Organizations producing test results for quality control of agro toxic production in industry and for the control of residue in feedstock or environment. The GLP Quality System is specifically dedicated to the risk evaluation activity. The present work analyses in broad spectrum the agro toxic and residue safety. Risk evaluation is discussed as well its compliance to the acceptable safety requirements established by regulations. The discussion emphasizes the role of the Quality Systems in the process that leads to the safety improvement. In such way it offers a contribution to the understanding of the complex relations between the regulatory agencies, the agro toxic industry and the Organizations that provide test results. Comments are presented on harmonization, accreditation, recognition, future Brazilian needs and trends.