CropLife Nigeria (CLN) has called for stronger enforcement of regulations against the importation, distribution and sale of pesticides prohibited by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The organisation, which represents manufacturers, formulators, importers, consultants, distributors, farmers and users of pest control products, said it was concerned about what it described as the continued circulation of paraquat, diquat, atrazine and chlorpyrifos despite their prohibition by NAFDAC in 2023.
According to CLN, NAFDAC prohibited the manufacture, importation, distribution and use of the affected products, including formulations containing them.
The organisation said the alleged continued circulation of the pesticides could undermine regulatory efforts, expose farmers and consumers to potential health risks, affect food safety and create challenges for the acceptance of Nigerian agricultural produce in international markets.
CLN said its members, in collaboration with NAFDAC, had developed and introduced alternative products to replace the prohibited pesticides.
In a statement, the organisation called on NAFDAC, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the Farm Inputs Support Services (FISS) Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), law-enforcement agencies, state governments and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen enforcement of regulations governing pesticides.
It urged the authorities to improve surveillance and intelligence-led inspections at land borders, ports and other entry points to prevent the illegal importation of prohibited pesticides.
The organisation also called for increased market surveillance and routine inspections of agrochemical markets to identify and remove prohibited products from circulation.
CLN further urged the relevant authorities to investigate suspected cases of illegal importation, distribution and sale of the pesticides and prosecute offenders where appropriate.
It called for greater collaboration among NAFDAC, NESREA, FISS, the Nigeria Customs Service, security agencies and neighbouring countries to strengthen efforts to prevent the illegal movement of prohibited pesticides across borders.
The organisation also advocated sustained public awareness campaigns to educate farmers on the risks associated with the use of prohibited pesticides and encourage them to obtain agricultural chemicals only from authorised distributors.
It recommended effective product traceability systems and stronger enforcement mechanisms to help prevent prohibited pesticides from re-entering the Nigerian market.
CLN reiterated its commitment to working with NAFDAC, NESREA, FISS and other stakeholders to strengthen pesticide regulation and promote food safety and national food security.
The organisation said effective enforcement of pesticide regulations would help protect farmers and consumers while supporting the reputation and international acceptance of Nigerian agricultural produce.