Deputy Minister of Agriculture (and former farmers' union leader) Michał Kołodziejczak stated that plans were already underway to tighten the regulations, and that the recent tragedy has now accelerated this process. One of the main changes involves a ban on the online sale and home delivery of the most dangerous crop protection products, including substances containing aluminum phosphide.
The deputy minister said that many private individuals, often out of ignorance, purchase products that are only allowed to be used by professional users. "Not everyone complies with the regulations," Kołodziejczak said. The ministry had already raised attention in July to the availability of such dangerous preparations and ordered inspections at sellers of crop protection products.
The police in the western Polish city of Nowy Tomyśl received an emergency call on Wednesday about the three-year-old girl, who was taken to hospital with signs of poisoning and subsequently died there. According to the police investigation, a chemical anti-rodent agent had been used on the family's property.
Although the product was used outdoors, an investigator suspected that the released fumes caused the poisoning. Firefighters discovered that the area was contaminated with phosphine, an extremely toxic gas.
Kołodziejczak urged users of crop protection products to be extremely careful and to follow the instructions on the labels. "Every crop protection product contains specific guidelines and must not be used by people without the proper training and authorization," he warned.
Next week, the Polish Ministry of Agriculture will hold talks with the state inspection service for plant health and seed control to implement further measures and additional restrictions. "This tragedy has shown that further steps are necessary to ensure the safety of our citizens," Kołodziejczak concluded.