NAFDAC Finally Wades Into The Sniper Suicide Scourge, Gives Ultimatum For The Recall Of The Product
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC, has finally taken definitive step many weeks after public outcry calling for the ban of Sniper insecticide.
Public outcry came following the notorious popularity of the product, which was originally designed as an agricultural formulation for pest control but became a choice poison for people of all ages who committed or attempted suicides across the length and breadth of the country.
The agency has now issued a 2-month notice to the brand owners and distributors of the product to recall and withdraw their products from open markets.
The agency’s intervention means the sale of Sniper and other brands of agricultural formulations of Dichlorvos following rampant suicide cases and misuse of the products will be banned effective from September.
A statement released by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, yesterday Wednesday, July 11th, says Sniper and other related products would not be sold in supermarkets and in the open markets from September 1st, 2019
“NAFDAC is giving a two-month (up to August 31, 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.
“The sale of Sniper insecticide and other Dichlorvos brands in open markets and supermarkets nationwide is prohibited with effect from September 1, 2019. NAFDAC is giving a six-month moratorium up to January 1, 2020, for brand owners to exhaust the products that are in various accredited agro-input dealers (distributors/marketers/retailers) outlets.”
the statement read.
The statement added that dealers, distributors, marketers and retailers of agrochemicals are to immediately register with the agency to ensure strict monitoring of the supply and use of the agrochemical.