By Alhagie Babou Jallow
Following a public outcry on purported use of an insecticide on smoked fish by fish processors and vendors, the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) has announced that it conducted investigation into the matter, and now has evidence indicating “the presence of ‘Sniper’ (dichlorvos) and four other insecticide products (namely; permethrin, abamectin, cypermethrin and bifenthrin)”.
During a press conference held Friday, July 15th, the Director General of FSQA, Momodou Bah said laboratory test results confirm sniper presence in smoked fish.
“Such reports prompted an immediate stakeholder engagement and subsequent verification process to investigate the use and presence of insecticides in fish products. The public was sensitized on the potential risks associated with the use of pesticides in food products, a press release indicated.
The Authority explained that fact -finding teams were established comprising of officials of FSQA, National Environment Agency, Directorate of Public Health Ministry of Health, Department of Fisheries and Pesticide Experts.
“The teams visited fish landing sites and markets to administer questionnaires and collect fish samples for laboratory analysis. During these engagements with the fish vendors and processors, none of respondents attested to the use of snipers, however empty sniper containers were seen at a site”.
The Authority further reported that a total of 57 fish samples were collected from 7 fish landing sites and 9 markets within the Greater Banjul Area. “From the main sample, 11 fish samples were randomly selected as sub-sample for analysis at Ceres Locustox Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal to determine the presence of pesticides. The result of the analysis indicated the presence of sniper (dichlorvos) and four other insecticide products (namely; permethrin, abamectin, cypermethrin and bifenthrin). The results further indicated high residual concentration of dichlorvos in the samples collected from Bakoteh fish market with a concentration of 9.18 mg/kg. The presence of other insecticides (permethrin, abamectin, cypermethrin and bifenthrin) were also found”.
The ‘Sniper’ product found in The Gambia contains a highly toxic organophosphate compound, which is very toxic to human health and the environment.
Sniper was originally formulated as a plant protection product to be used only for agricultural use (at 1000 g/L). It was also used as biocide at much lower concentrations (mostly 25 g/L). Sniper is a banned product in The Gambia due to its toxicity, continuous misuse and abuse of the product.
The Director General warned fish processors, distributors and vendors to cease and desist from the use of pesticides on fish and other food products. “Anyone found engaging in such unscrupulous activity would be in breach of the law and therefore shall face the undesirable consequences that come with it”.
The FSQA informed that risk communication exercises will be conducted to create awareness on safe chemical pesticide usage to ensure good hygienic practices in food processing, safeguard public health and preserve environmental health.
