The document discusses the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control's (NAFDAC) role in regulating herbicides in Nigeria. It defines herbicides and pesticides. NAFDAC's mandate is to regulate food, drugs and chemicals. Herbicides are classified as pre-emergent, knockdown, or selective. NAFDAC controls herbicides through product registration and evaluation, labeling requirements, inspections, and promoting safe use. The goal is to make sure herbicides are safe, effective and properly used to protect human and environmental health.

1. NATIONAL AGENCY FOR FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL
SAFE AND EFFECTIVE USE OF HERBICIDES
A Presentation at
A PROJECT ON SUSTAINABLE WEED MANAGEMENT
TECHNOLOGIES FOR CASSAVA SYSTEM IN NIGERIA
BY
Dr I.A. Mudashir
CRO (Veterinary Medicine and Allied Product Directorate)
Email: vmap@nafdac.gov.ng

2. OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
NAFDAC MANDATE
DEFINITIONS
TYPES OF PESTICIDES
CLASSIFICATION OF HERBICIDE
REGULATORY CONTROL OF PESTICIDES
USING HERBICIDE PRODUCT
CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION
Pesticides play an important role in the struggle to increase
food production, protect harvested food and to control
vectors of diseases.
Pesticides can cause harm to human, animal and also the
environment. The use of pesticides can be expected to
result in residues in or on food and feed. Consequently,
health concerns have shifted focus on the immediate and
poisonous effects to uncertainties from chronic exposure
to low levels of pesticides in diets.

4. INTRODUCTION
Many cases of accidents and death due to improper use of
pesticides have occurred in Nigeria. In many countries, there are
restrictions on the levels of there toxic chemicals in staple food
products.
The regulatory system is designed to ensure that the remaining
residues do not constitute unacceptable health risks to
consumers.

5. NAFDAC’S MANDATE
NAFDAC was established under Decree 15 of 1993, as
amended in Decree 19 of 1999, (now NAFDAC Act CAP NI
LFN 2004) which empowers NAFDAC to regulate and
control the importation, exportation, manufacture,
advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs,
cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals.

6. DEFINITIONS
The NAFDAC Pesticide Registration Regulation (2005) defines a
pest and pesticide as follows:-
Pest means any insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed or any
other form of plant or virus or bacteria or other microorganism.
Pesticide as any chemical substance or mixture of substance
intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, mitigating the
effect of any pest of plants and animals.
While a weed is a plant considered undesirable, unattractive, or
troublesome. It normally grows in places where it is not wanted

7. TYPES OF PESTICIDES
Pesticides can be classified by the type of pest against which they
are directed e.g., Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides,
Rodenticides, Molluscicide, Nematides, Repellants, Attractants,
Insect growth regulators used in agriculture, public health,
horticulture and food stoarage.
They can also be grouped into chemical families which include
organochlorines, organophosphates, and carbamates.
Herbicides are chemical substances or mixtures of substances
intended for killing unwanted plants. They are also commonly
known as weedkillers.

8. Classification of Herbicide
A herbicide can be classified as follows:
• Pre- emergent (residual): These herbicides are designed to
inhibit the germination of pest plants, They are therefore
applied before the pest plants germinates and are often
residual in the soil for long periods.
• Knockdown (non-selective): These herbicides are designed to
be applied directly to the target pest plant.
• Selective: These herbicides kill specific targets, while leaving
the desired crop relatively unharmed.

9. Regulatory Control of
Pesticides
The essence of pesticide control is safety, which is hinged on
the presentation of unnecessary exposure to pesticides.
In NAFDAC, regulatory and control measures that ensures
that all regulated products (Herbicides inclusive) in the open
market are safe and efficacious are as follows:
 Product Registration: The registration requirement entails
the submission of appropriate form along with relevant
documents e.g power of attorney, free sale certificate,
certificate of analysis e.t.c

10. Regulatory Control of
Pesticides contd.
 The product registration Dossier would be expected to provide
information on:
- The product composition, normal concentration, physical
and chemical characteristics.
- Standard analytical methods for each active ingredient,
impurities or inert ingredient that is toxicologically significant.
- Studies conducted in respect of Environmental fate,
degradation, metabolism in plants and animal, accumulation,
hazards to humans and domestic animals, toxicity whether by
oral, dermal and / or inhalation

11. Regulatory Control of
Pesticides contd.
 Product packaging material and label.
 Product Labeling: The label on a pesticide container or
package provides instruction for use of the herbicide. It also will
include the product brand name, active ingredient, date
markings, name and address of manufacturer, precautionary
measures, warning, storage conditions, disposal e.t.c
Laboratory analysis for qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Pesticide Residue Laboratory to detect the presence of
pesticide in food raw material and finished food.

12. Regulatory Control of
Pesticides contd.
Conduct inspection of manufacturing facility to ensure that
production is inline with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
for both indigenous and oversea company.
Collaborate with Research Institute to conduct field trial
evaluation to ascertain the safety and efficacy of herbicides.
Food and Drug Regulatory Committee (FDRC) meeting
every month to scrutinize products before product is issued
NAFDAC Registration number.
Activities of Port Inspectorate which inspects all regulated
products.

13. Regulatory Control of
Pesticides contd.
Evaluate field trial / efficacy trial report submitted.
Routine Laboratory screening of every consignment of an
already registered product imported into the country.
Conduct routine Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS). This would
include effective surveillance and continuous monitoring of all
regulated products.
Public enlightenment awareness campaign on safe handling and
appropriate use of pesticide.
Enforcement activities.

14. Using Herbicide Products
Everyone with the intent of using any regulated product
(herbicide inclusive) has the responsibility to ensure that they
use them correctly as specified by the manufacturer on the label
and ensure the following:-
• Buy only registered herbicides
• Examine pack carefully, make sure product is sealed and labels
are intact
• Put into consideration Safe transport and storage conditions
• Safe mixing and application according to manufacturers
specifications.
• Appropriate safety gears should be worn at all times when
handling herbicides.

15. Conclusion
The activities of the Agency are geared towards promoting and
protecting animal and human health by ensuring that safety and
quality of all regulated products are available for use and also to
assist in minimizing detrimental effects to the environment.
The Agency will continue to explore other avenues on improving
this efforts which can be enhanced through improved
collaboration with other stakeholders

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