National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm that agro-input dealers are endangering the life and health of Nigerians through the use of agrochemical, “Sniper” and all other brands of ‘’Dichlorvos’’ (DDVP) to preserve foodstuffs.
NAFDAC warned that use of such agrochemicals for such unapproved purposes has severe health implications that could lead to death.
It expressed disappointment that despite several warnings and sensitizations, some traders have continued to misuse and misapply the banned agrochemical (sniper) to preserve food stuffs, thereby endangering the lives of unsuspecting consumers.
The Agency explained that continuous misuse of the dangerous agrochemicals in the preservation of foodstuffs could result in health implications with symptoms such as weakness of the body, headache, tightness in chest, blurred vision, salivation, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, eye and skin irritation, eye pain, runny nose, lack of appetite, dizziness, convulsions, low blood pressure, and possibly death.
Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement released in Abuja, on Sunday, disclosed that its offices nationwide have been directed to ensure enforcement of these regulatory measures and take appropriate sanction against defaulters as part of their post marketing surveillance activities.
She said the Agency has embarked on another round of massive sensitization workshops in collaboration with relevant stakeholders on safe and responsible use of crop protection products on agricultural commodity storage for farmers, grain merchants and aggregators in seven locations across the country.
She added: ‘’NAFDAC in collaboration with relevant stakeholders organized two sensitization workshops for agro-input dealers on safe and responsible use of crop protection products in Kano and Oyo states prior to the outbreak of COVID-19.
‘However, this will be extended to the other parts of the country when the condition is more favorable.’
Prof. Adeyeye, however, appealed to the farmers to desist from the use of the banned agrochemicals for such purposes, explaining that the main use of Dichlorvos (DDVP) is for insect control in food storage areas, green houses, and barns, and for parasite control in livestock, insisting that Dichlorvos is generally not used on outdoor crops.
SUN, NG
