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NAFDAC Seeks Cooperation of Relevant Stakeholders In Ridding Nigeria of Hazardous Pesticides

 

By Ajibola Adedoye

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is soliciting the co-operation of the public and all relevant agencies in its effort to rid the nation of numerous hazardous pesticides across the country.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, made the appeal in a press release made available to the media on Tuesday, 2nd May, 2023 following NAFDAC’s ban, phase-out and re-classification of pesticides in Nigeria.

According to Professor Adeyeye, the move is necessary because “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. There was also an alert received from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) cautioning on the possibility that the European Union and United Kingdom were exporting banned Neonicotinoid Pesticides to Nigeria and other Poorer Countries. Emphasis was placed on Chlorpyrifos and its variants due to their harmful effects on humans, animals, beneficial insects, and the environment”.

The NAFDAC D.G explained further that during her first term in office, she gave a directive to review and analyze the list of registered pesticides and agrochemical active ingredients in the NAFDAC Registered Product Automated Database (NARPAD) vis-à-vis actives banned, non-approved or restricted in the European Union, other countries or by relevant international organizations. That led to several meetings with stakeholders and November 2022 meeting when timelines were set for the phase-out ban of the various pesticides.

She reiterated that the Agency has initiated the action plan for the ban/phase-out of 12 active ingredients and the re-classification 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.
Professor Adeyeye however said NAFDAC will not relent in protecting and promoting the public health by instituting an effective and efficient regulatory system at all times.

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