The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has vowed that there would be no going back in its decision to completely phase out some pesticides in the country.
The agency equally vows unwavering commitment to intensify efforts aimed at lifting the ban on Nigerian foods meant for exports, especially beans.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known on Monday at an interactive session with journalists.
The session was essentially to brief the media on the progress made by the agency in the outgoing year.
She stated that with modest progress made, the agency is determined to achieve Maturity Level 4 for both the agency and the country, among other set targets for 2024.
Emphasizing the no-going back resolve of the banned pesticides, the DG affirmed that the Veterinary Medicines and Allied Products Directorate has recently initiated the phase-out action plan for certain pesticide active ingredients.
According to her, the initial pesticide facing a ban, Paraquat, will be enforced from January 1, 2024.
Following that, the ban on Chlorpyrifos is set to take effect from November 1, 2024, and the ban on Atrazine will come into effect from January 1, 2025.
In addition, the DG said 12 active ingredients are on the ban/phase-out table. These include Carbofuran, Clothianidin, Diquat Dibromide, Diquate Dichloride, Ametryn, Anthraquinone, Carbendazim, Chlorothalonil, Oxadiargyle, Thiacloprid, Methomyl and Thiamethoxam.
According to her, four others – Fipronil, Permethrin, Cyfluthrin and Amitraz are on reclassification.
Expressing concern over the detrimental impact of the ban on Nigerian food exports, particularly the inability to export produce like beans to Europe, the Americas, and other regions, Adeyeye emphasized that NAFDAC is steadfast in its efforts to alter this narrative.
She said: “NAFDAC is assiduously putting in place processes that will result in lifting of ban on food exports such as Beans.
“The efforts include visiting UK counterparts (UK Veterinary and UK Food Safety Agency), working with sister agencies and strengthening our processes, including developing a regulation that serves and legal framework”.
