The National Agency for Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), has expressed concerns about the prevalence of fake pesticides in the country, saying it would henceforth apply its regulatory powers to address it.
The agency said to successfully achieve this aim, it would collaborate with other relevant agencies like the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and intensify campaigns and education about the dangers of using fake or banned pesticides.
These were contained in a statement by its director general, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye.
She said, “The dangers posed by pesticides are of immense concern to the agency and there have been recent concerns from stakeholders, such as the report of the study conducted by Heinrich Boll Foundation; a non-governmental organisation that claimed that 40% of pesticides used in Nigeria had been banned in the EU.”
She said in line with its regulatory role, her agency has decided to, among other issues, take the following steps for the safety of Nigerians: “Pesticide and agrochemical importers and manufacturers would be advised to institute stewardship plans (such as Post Marketing Surveillance and research), in their companies, NAFDAC to collaborate with research institutes in the conduct of research and scientific data generation on pesticides to enable the agency make evidence-based decisions and policies, NAFDAC to intensify Post Marketing Surveillance nationwide; there should be continual sensitisation and education of relevant stakeholders on the safe and responsible use of pesticides.”
Adeyeye said, “In addition to the Ban of Paraquat, Chlorpyrifos, and Atrazine with effective dates from 1st January 2024, 1st November 2024, and 1st January 2025, respectively, `the agency has also initiated the action plan for the ban/phase-out of 12 active ingredients and the reclassification of 4 others.
“The availability of alternatives in the country were put into consideration to ensure that stakeholders, most especially, farmers, will not be affected by the decisions taken.”
The DG described pesticides as applied both indoors and outdoors for the management of pests, vector-borne diseases, and crop protection.
