PCB suspends chemical importation licences

The Pesticides Control Board (PCB) has suspended licences for the importation of aluminum phosphide, locally known as ‘chi m’bulu’,often used to protect harvested maize and kill rats, especially in households,

PCB board chairperson Victor Madhlopa announced the decision at a media briefing on Friday at the institution’s headquarters in Bvumbwe.

PCB registrar James Kaphale

He said the decision was made following concerns surrounding its misuse, including use in suicide, accidental poisoning and occupational exposure.

“A comprehensive, rigorous review has been initiated. Moving forward, we are establishing a strictly controlled gateway into the country. This chemical will feature locked-down distribution pipelines,” he said.

“Its application will be restricted exclusively to large-scale, authorised and certified grain dealers who have undergone verified professional training. The days of open-market access are over.”

Madhlopa clarified that the pesticide is strictly banned from public sale, saying it is legally permitted for use deep inside sealed, professional shipping containers and warehouses.

He said it is mandated to be handled exclusively by certified experts wearing full-body hazardous material suits and specialised respirators.

“Yet, today, criminal actors are breaking open buck packages, repackaging this poison into unlabelled plastic bags and selling it to unsuspecting Malawians on the open market,” added Madhlopa.

“When you bring chi m’bulu into your home, you are not buying a pesticide; you are bringing a death sentence into your household.”

While emphasising that there is no antidote for the dire effects of the pesticide, Madhlopa said it, among others, causes heart destruction, systemic cellular failure, suffocation and lung fluid.

As such, Madhlopa warned agro-dealers and vendors that unauthorised sale, distribution or repackaging of the pesticide is a criminal offence, stating that PCB’s enforcement officers and Malawi Police Service officers will be conducting nationwide sweeps.

He further appealed to Malawians, especially those keeping the pesticides in their home, not to dispose, but wrap, keep away from moisture and hand it over to local agricultural extension officers or local leaders for safe disposal.

On his part, PCB registrar James Kaphale said under the existing regulatory framework, the importation, distribution, storage, sale and use of the particular pesticide are controlled; hence, it is supposed to be supplied to and used by properly authorised and certified persons.

But he expressed concerns that despite the existence of the regulatory framework, the pesticide is finding its way into formal and informal markets, including through sales, diversion, decanting, repackaging and handled by people who are not trained or authorised to handle it.

“When a highly hazardous pesticide meant for controlled professional use ends up in the hands of an unauthorised person, we are no longer dealing with a regulatory technicality; we are dealing with a potential tragedy,” said Kaphale.

Section 34 (5) (6) of the Pesticides Act states that no person may handle pesticides without using personal protective equipment designed to protect against inhalation or absorption of the product.

Kaphale said: “We, therefore, cannot afford a situation where somebody can walk into a market, obtain this product without authorisation, have it divided into smaller quantities and take it away without anyone knowing where it came from or where it is going.”

The Pesticides Act states that pesticides should be registered and licenced for activities, including distribution, storage for sale.

The Act also provides for licencing of commercial applications.

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