Health Alert: NAFDAC warns Nigerians against banned pesticides from EU, UK

*Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control cautions consumers the report of a recent study particularly, found the danger of ‘chlorpyrifos and its variants’ for their harmful effects on humans, food safety and security, animals, beneficial insects and the environment

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confirmed it received an alert from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development cautioning on the possibility that the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) were exporting banned neonicotinoid pesticides to Nigeria and other poorer countries.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, Sunday, May 7, 2023 warned consumers against the dangers posed by pesticides are of immense concern to the health regulatory agency.

Adeyeye as well cited the report of the study conducted by Heinrich Boll Foundation, which found that 40 percent of pesticides being used in Nigeria had been banned in the EU countries.

The NAFDAC Director-General especially stated that emphasis was placed on chlorpyrifos and its variants due to their harmful effects on humans, animals, beneficial insects and the environment.

 

NAFDAC action plan to harmful pesticides in Nigeria

In view of the development therefore, Prof. Adeyeye said NAFDAC had developed an action plan for the ban/phase-out of 12 active ingredients and the reclassification of  four other harmful pesticides in the West African country.

The Director-General disclosed the availability of alternatives in the country were considered to ensure the stakeholders, especially farmers are not negatively affected by the health regulator’s decisions in this regard.

Adeyeye further noted that paraquat, chlorpyrifos, atrazine pesticides had been banned with effect from January 1, 2024, November 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025 respectively.

According to her, the toxicity associated with the misuse and abuse of pesticides is worrisome, as it affects food safety and security.

NAFDAC stated: “The toxicity of pesticides is managed through stringent regulatory activities to reduce severe health implications on humans, crops, and the environment.

“This can be achieved through awareness and continual sensitisation of stakeholders.”

Adeyeye as well explained that efforts at addressing harmful pesticides in Nigeria necessitated the review and analysis of the list of registered pesticide and agrochemical active ingredients in the NAFDAC Registered Product Automated Database vis-à-vis actives banned, non-approved or restricted in the European Union, other countries or by relevant international organisations.

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