The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has insisted that the healthy use of methyl bromide for control of agricultural pest remains permissible in Nigeria, especially for export of Hibiscus to Mexico.
The service was responding to the recent warnings issued by National Agency for Food and Drug Food and Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to the effect that the agro-chemical, methyl bromide, has been phased out and its use in Nigeria is now prohibited because of the impact of the substance on climate change, particularly the depletion of the ozone layer.
NAQS in a statement on Monday signed by the Head, Media, Communication and Strategies, Dr. Chigozie Nwodo, in Abuja said any possible announcement of a change in the regime of the use of methyl bromide for agricultural pest control in the future will emanate from NAQS.
According to him, the said announcement has caused concern and panic among farmers and exporters who rely on Methyl bromide as potent option for the control of certain agricultural pests.
He advised farmers that the healthy use of methyl bromide for control of agricultural pest remains permissible in Nigeria especially for export of Hibiscus to Mexico.
Explaining, the agency said, “Methyl bromide is a widely used gas fumigant for the control of insect pests, termites, rodents, weeds and some soil borne diseases.
“Whereas the use of methyl bromide is known to have some deleterious effect on the environment, it is acceptable for controlled quarantine use because of the lack of comparably efficacious alternatives. For example, under the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15, the use of Methyl bromide for the treatment of wood packaging in international trade is allowed.
