Food and Drugs officials in Nigeria have banned some insecticides including Sniper, largely used for agricultural purposes due to their usage by citizens to commit suicide.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced the ban on Thursday in a statement.
It said it is “gravely concerned about the recent trend in the abuse and misuse of 100ml of Sniper insecticide and other brands of Agricultural formulations of Dichlorvos to commit suicide, as household insecticide and direct misapplication on agricultural produce.”
“The abuse and misuse of the 100ml of these products is associated with serious Public Health hazards such as cancer and respiratory disorder”, the statement added.
To ensure that the insecticides are no longer abused and used to commit suicide, NAFDAC said it banning “the importation and manufacture of 100ml pack size of Agricultural formulations of Dichlorvos with immediate effect.”
It is also is “giving a two-month (up to 31st August 2019) notice to brand owners/distributors to recall and withdraw their products from open markets and supermarkets that do not have garden corner/shelves to the agro dealer outlets.”
Response to the Abuse and Misuse of SNIPER (100ml) Pack Size and Other Brands of Agricultural Formulations of Dichlorvos Products.#NafdacRelease#Thread pic.twitter.com/ubawSiIq9j
— NAFDAC NIGERIA (@NafdacAgency) July 11, 2019
Among other measures the agency is advising Nigerians “to desist from the misuse of agricultural formulations of Dichlorvos as household insecticides, as such malpractice is associated with public health hazards.”
The insecticides being banned reportedly have been effective in killing pests at home but people are resorting to them in times wanting to take their own lives.
When news of the usage of some of these insecticides for suicide emerged, Nigerian lawmakers called for their ban.
The latest move is seen as a response to that demand and appeal to help control the surge in the cases of suicide.
Source: Africafeeds.com
