Govt withdraws 77 pesticide products from use in Kenya

The government has announced the immediate withdrawal of  77 pesticide products from the Kenyan market after being found to contain harmful active ingredients.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe says the move follows completion of a comprehensive review of pesticide active ingredients which are registered in the country by the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB).

“Following scientific assessment and stakeholder consultations we have identified certain active ingredients and associated end-use products that pose unacceptable risks to human health, crops, livestock and the environment” said Kagwe.

The government has further restricted the use of 202 products on various crops while 151 other products are currently being reviewed  by the PCPB with the process expected to conclude by December this year. The review was conducted on 430 end use products currently being used by farmers across the country.

“In the meantime, the use or importation of the 151 products remain prohibited until the end of the review,” he stated.

Kagwe has also directed importers of pest control products to ensure the products are registered in their country of origin and has prohibited registration of products banned in the international market under multilateral environmental agreements.

“Importation of of any molecular under review that is not approved in the European Union, the United States of America, Australia and Canada shall be prohibited until finalization and review,” added Kagwe.