ECOWAS pesticide registration harmonisation set to transform West Africa’s agric industry
Industry leaders and stakeholders in the agricultural sector from West African countries gathered in Accra last Friday for the “Information and Exchange” workshop.
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The workshop marked a significant milestone in the operationalisation of the West African Pesticide Registration Committee (WAPRC).
The event, aimed at addressing regulatory challenges and fostering collaboration, was lauded by experts as a pivotal moment for harmonising pesticide registration systems within the ECOWAS and Sahel region.
The Institut du Sahel (INSAH) of the Inter-states Permanent Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) organised the workshop in partnership with ECOWAS and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) as part of ongoing efforts to streamline regulatory processes for pesticides across West Africa and the Sahel.
Pesticide regulation
Speaking on behalf of Ghana, the Director of Plant Protection and Regulatory Services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Eric Bentsil Quaye, stressed the significance of the workshop in enhancing agricultural productivity across West Africa.
Despite the usefulness and significant contribution of pesticides in improving agricultural productivity, we no longer need to remind you of the importance of regulating them, given the hazardous nature of these products and the health and environmental consequences of their misuse,” he stated.
Mr Quaye highlighted the region’s ongoing food production struggles, with 60 per cent of rice demand being met locally and pointed out the damaging effects of climate change, particularly pest infestations which resulted in a 40 per cent annual loss in potential agricultural yields.
“In some countries, between 70 per cent and 90 per cent of pesticides sold on the market are not registered,” he lamented, emphasising the need for coordinated regulatory action at the subregional level.
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The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr John Kingsley Krugu, and the Deputy Executive Secretary of CILSS, Dr Sylvain Nafiba Ouedraogo, welcomed the delegates and set the context for the operationalisation of WAPRC.
The workshop builds on initiatives stemming from the 2018 Pesticides Cooperation Agreement among ECOWAS, WAEMU and CILSS, which gave the CILSS leadership over the WAPRC.
Accra meeting followed a previous session in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in July 2022, with participants focusing on post-registration pesticide monitoring and addressing the backlog of unregistered and obsolete chemicals.
In an interview, the Executive Director of CropLife Ghana, Kadiri Rashad, underscored the importance of this event for the pesticide industry, saying the absence of harmonised regulations had led to issues of counterfeiting, pest resistance management and difficulties with dossier submissions.
“The new e-submission platform will make it easier for companies to submit dossiers, improving accessibility, “he said.
The Regulatory Manager at WCA, Tuo Khady, also emphasised the significance of harmonisation for industry leaders.
“Harmonisation of the pesticide registration system within ECOWAS is crucial for us as a leader in the agricultural industry. It will reduce the complexity of navigating different countries, reduce workloads and cut costs related to registration fees.
Better access to markets will accelerate our strategy in the region and for farmers, this means access to better crop protection products that ensure environmental and human safety,” he stated.