The usage and importation of pesticides banned in Europe in Nigeria have alarmed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
However, NAFDAC is looking for help from all parties to get dangerous pesticides off the Nigerian market.
According to the Heinrich Boll Foundation study report, 40% of the pesticides used in Nigeria were prohibited in the European Union.
The agency also raised concern over the harmful effects of pesticide overuse and misuse, stating that these effects have an impact on food security and safety.
In a statement released by Sayo Akintola, the agency’s resident media consultant, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the director general of NAFDAC, stated that “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 organization that claimed that 40% of pesticides used in Nigeria had been banned in the EU.
“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also issued a warning, expressing concern that Nigeria and other developing nations might be receiving illegal neonicotinoid pesticides from the European Union and the United Kingdom.
The negative consequences of chlorpyrifos and its variations on humans, animals, beneficial insects, and the environment were highlighted.
“According to the Constitution, NAFDAC’s mandate is to oversee and manage the production, distribution, sale, use, advertisement, and use of food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergent, and other products.
This required a study and analysis of the NAFDAC Registered Product Automated Database’s list of registered pesticide and agrochemical active components in light of prohibited and unapproved activities.
According to the agency, stakeholders were informed of the review’s findings via a three-day virtual stakeholder engagement.
It added that the proposed phase-out and ban of the active components were major topics of discussion at the review meeting.
At the conclusion of the conference, it was decided that importers and producers of pesticides and agrochemicals would be instructed to implement stewardship programs including Post Marketing Surveillance and research in their businesses.
“NAFDAC would work with research institutions to conduct studies on pesticides and produce scientific data in order for the organization to develop choices and policies that are supported by the available data. Additionally, NAFDAC would step up its nationwide Post-Marketing Surveillance program, and it would also continue to educate and raise awareness with pertinent parties about the appropriate and safe use of pesticides.
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“NAFDAC would cooperate with its sister organizations, such as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Nigerian Standard Organization.
Other organizations the agency would work with include the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service and the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency, it was stated.
The engagement, it was further stated, was made to ensure that pesticide and agrochemical goods would be regulated in concert.
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