Entrepreneurs who are active in the gold mining sector are currently allowed to import three containers filled with chemical substances such as cyanide per quarter. The government’s objective is to phase out the import of cyanide. Meanwhile the government is also working on a system that will make it possible to keep a close eye on the trade and use of these dangerous substances in Suriname. Oil, Gas and Environment Minister Patrick Brunings explained that the current restriction is the first step towards minimizing the use of chemicals in the gold mining sector. Meanwhile the government is trying to figure out if it will be possible to ban the import and use of chemicals or if a strict regulated system will be more effective when it comes to keeping these substances from being smuggled into the country. A registration system is being prepared because the government wants to provide a unique barcode to the shipping containers and the bags that are imported. During inspections it will be easy for the inspectors to find out if the chemicals that end up in the gold mining fields were imported via the legal channels. “The best thing would be to go from those three containers to zero per quarter”, said Minister Brunings.