DICHLORVOS SCARE HEIGHTENS NIGERIA FOOD SAFETY ALARM

Few weeks ago m the social mdia was awash with videos of some youths spraying what was understood to be DDVP on dried beans
The chemical also called dichlorvos, is the culprit that sentenced Nigeria to about 4 year ban from the European Union. It will be recalled that DICHLORVOS, has been declared not safe in a EU document published in 2012. Having considered human and environmental risk assessment, the chemical was labelled as ‘showing potential and unacceptable RISK’ as a biocidal chemical.
By next year, 2019, the ba on Nigerian dried beans in EU is due for review. The present incident will surely put in focus Nigeria s seriuosness and readiness about being brought back to engage in fair international agro-trade . Measures put in place wil be reviewed. These principally are captured under the ZERO REJECT initiative driven by Federal Ministriesm like Agric and Health; and Agencies like UNIDO

It is clear that more attention will have to be on Extension measures that will spread the new interventions aimed at wholesome agro produce for local consumption and export

Dele FRapohunda
Nov 2018