Nairobi: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) has successfully seized illegal pesticides valued at over Sh3 million during a recent crackdown aimed at eliminating unauthorized and harmful pesticides from the Garissa market.
According to Kenya News Agency, the operation was part of a two-day enforcement initiative led by Lawrence Kalawa, the General Manager for Compliance and Enforcement at PCPB. Kalawa expressed concern about the exploitation of porous borders by some business people to smuggle illegal products from neighboring countries, thereby endangering the lives of Kenyan consumers.
Kalawa further revealed that the crackdown has resulted in at least 42 active court cases and 30 successful prosecutions against suspects involved in illegal pesticide trading. He emphasized the importance of compliance, stating that all businesspersons in the pesticides sector must apply for permits to operate legally in the country. Furthermore, all pesticide products must undergo inspection and be affixed with safety stickers by PCPB before they can be sold in the Kenyan market.
Kalawa highlighted the legal requirements for those involved in the pesticide business, which include submitting applications for registration and obtaining necessary permits to trade in pesticides. He also noted that the importation of pesticides is strictly regulated, with guidelines ensuring only approved products are brought into Kenya.
Despite these measures, Kalawa pointed out that some traders continue to engage in illegal activities by importing unauthorized products from neighboring countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia, or even as far as China, without proper registration.
In a stern warning, Kalawa cautioned all traders operating illegally without permits or dealing with unauthorized products to cease their activities immediately. "We are putting a warning to all Agro dealers and all business people who are trading with unauthorized pesticides that we will be at your doorstep. Please withdraw them immediately before we catch up with you," he stated.