Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 13, 2015 News
– to complement border control efforts
The Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Control Board (PTCC) has embarked on an aggressive Public awareness campaign in a bid to complement the ongoing efforts to stop importing illegal pesticides and chemicals.
According to PTCC Registrar, Trecia David, the fight against illegal pesticides and chemicals was ever present, but in recognition of the fact that Guyana does have porous borders, the decision was made to tackle the problem in additional ways.
David stated that the Board has thus embarked on a campaign, designed to notify the public of the pesticide products that are considered illegal.
According to her, the campaign will also target the market environs and street vendors with a particular focus on vendors of rat bait, which does not generally have labels.
She said that Pesticides and toxic chemicals have to go through a registration process with the Pesticide Board. Illegal pesticides would not have gone through this process, thus the components and toxicity of the products are not known.
“They have to go through this process to know how toxic these products are and whether they should be allowed in Guyana,” David stated.
She recalled one case whereby persons using aerosol insect spray might be unaware of the toxicity contained in the item. Hence, they would remain in the room after spraying it in the air, a practice that could be considered harmful.
She also stated that the names and images of products which did not go through the registration process would be published in the media each week. She stated that some brands of mosquito coil and some household products fall into this category.
David revealed that just last week, the campaign picked up steam in shops around Georgetown. However, she explained that even if Inspectors enter these shops, it is not just to confiscate these products, but inspectors would remain on the business premises, consulting with customers.
During these consultations, the Registrar said, the public will be educated about the dangerous pesticides that are on the market and what signs to look out for. One danger sign, she said, were pesticides with labels in a foreign language.
She also encouraged the general public to contact them on their hotline. She added that if the public was not sure of what they could buy, the PTCC would provide a complete list of products.
The PTCC has continued to embark on raids of suspect dealers and for the year 2015 has pulled off 18 seizures in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six. The items seized include both agricultural and household articles which are all in violation of the regulations.
The items, according to the Registrar, would amount to approximately 600kg (half a ton).
The PTCC Board, created under the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Act 2000, Part III, Section 7, is responsible for managing the manufacturing, importing, transporting, storing, vending and usage of toxic chemicals.
The Board mandates that all toxic chemicals imported on or before December 31, 2015, be registered in order to be approved for importation from January 1, next. The registered products are then documented on the official listing for registered toxic chemicals.
Among the items required for registration are original draft labels in English, a safety data sheet comprising the formula used in the product, a description of the tests done and the results. An application for registration of a pesticide or toxic chemical, addressed to the Registrar is also required.
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
Apr 18, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has been named Wisden’s leading Twenty20 Cricketer for 2023, as she topped all and sundry, including her male counterparts. Alan Gardner looks...Kaieteur News – Compliments of the Ministry of Education, our secondary school children are being treated to a stage... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]