KAMPALA.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has promised to release its findings on 14 pesticides that the European Union (EU) has listed for withdrawal.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the inaugural CropLife symposium in Kampala Wednesday , Dr Paul Mwambu, director of crop inspection and certification at the ministry, said the government must proceed with caution.
He noted that while the EU has banned the pesticides, Uganda needed to conduct its own investigations to determine whether the reasons for deregistration are relevant in the local context.
“The science of developing plant protection products comes from the need to improve yields.
Crops have been bred for different traits such as increased plant size, resistance to disease or resistance to emerging pests and the plant needs to be supported well,” he said.
Dr Mwambu explained that when a pesticide is first introduced to the market, its effects on human health and the environment, as well as the impact of its breakdown products, may not be fully known.
He added that as more information emerges over time, including potential risks, proposals to withdraw such products must be approached carefully. Before any regulatory action is taken, he said, it is essential to gather sufficient evidence and ensure that any alternatives to the pesticide are both affordable and effective.
During the opening ceremony of the symposium last Wednesday, CropLife Uganda, an apex body of players in Uganda’s agrochemical and fertiliser industry, urged the government to delay implementing the ban on the importation of 14 agrochemicals recently prohibited by the European Union.
Manufacturers, importers, and retailers appealed to the government to hold off enforcement until scientific studies verify the EU’s claims. They argued that some chemicals are alleged to cause cancer, while others are reportedly ineffective. However, they noted that ecological conditions in Europe differ significantly from those in Africa, meaning a ban based on EU findings may not be applicable locally.
The industry experts warned that such a move could potentially lead to food insecurity in Uganda. “We are discussing the European Union restrictions on 14 pesticides, which the Agriculture Chemicals Board is reviewing. We are not ready for the ban now because there are some eco-friendly pesticides, and banning them is going to increase the importation of fake pesticides. We know the products with low hazards,” Ms Agnes Mbabazi, the chairperson of CropLife Uganda, said.
She noted that while the private sector is committed to protecting both farmers and the environment, their concern is that banning the 14 pesticides without available alternatives will create a gap in the market, allowing counterfeit products to flourish. She explained that introducing new pesticides is costly and can take more than a year and a half to register, which means Uganda could face a shortage of approved products for up to two years.
Mr Perez Kawumi, the chairman of the Agriculture Chemicals Board, added that as the body responsible for authorising pesticide imports, the board must ensure Uganda’s agricultural practices comply with the standards of countries that import its produce. “Quality is important to us. What we accept as Uganda is compliant and acceptable the world over. We should not be in a position where we produce products that will be rejected.
What we produce is paramount for us to be compliant with what we produce, let us not only look at what the Europeans eat but also what our farmers eat,” he said.