Over $4M illegal pesticide seized in Guyana

The Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board recently seized in excess of $4M in illegal Household and Agriculture Pesticides Products countrywide.

The board in a statement on Monday, said the seizures are in keeping with the Board’s mandates for eradicating the importation, sale and use of illegal pesticides.

"All products confiscated during these operations were not registered by the Board. In addition, the labeling standard does not comply with Regulation requirements. Over four (4) million dollars of illegal agricultural pesticides were confiscated along with numerous illegal household use products for the past two months” the statement said.

"According to the board, the seizures are in keeping with the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Regulations 2004 which dictates that all pesticides imported, sold and used in Guyana must be registered by the Board.

"The Board wishes to re-emphasize that all pesticides are poisons, which pose high risks to human health and the environment” the statement said.

It added that “the Board is notifying the general public that in accordance with the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Act 2000 (No. 13 of 2000), anyone who commits an offence against the Act by importation, distribution, vending, storage and use of any illegal pesticides including unregistered products such as agriculture pesticides, rat poison, fly, ants and roach baits, mosquito coil and aerosols, is liable to prosecution in the Courts of Guyana, and shall be FINED and IMPRISONED under the stated Act.”