KENYA – Kenya has withdrawn 77 pesticide products from the market and restricted the use of an additional 202 in a regulatory overhaul aimed at strengthening food safety and environmental protection.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced the measures following a comprehensive review by the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB).
The banned products include chemicals such as 2,4,5-T, Chlordane, Chlordimeform, Endrin, and DDT (Dichlorodiphenyl Trichloroethane), which have long been criticized for their environmental persistence and human health risks.
Also prohibited are soil fumigants like Dibromochloropropane and Ethylene Dibromide, alongside Heptachlor, Toxaphene, and the five isomers of Hexachlorocyclohexane.
Review and regulatory measures
The PCPB evaluated 430 end-use products using scientific data submitted by applicants and referencing global regulatory decisions. According to Kagwe, 77 products were banned, while 202 have been restricted to specific uses or crops.
Among the restricted chemicals are 2,4-D Amine, which is now prohibited in coffee farming, Abamectin, disallowed in open fields, and Chlorpyrifos, now approved only as a termiticide.
Propineb and Iprodione have been banned from use on edible crops. The remaining 151 products are still under review and remain prohibited until the evaluation concludes in December 2025.
Strengthening pesticide regulation
Kagwe noted that new products considered for registration in Kenya must also be registered in their country of origin. Additionally, any pesticide banned under international multilateral environmental agreements will not be eligible for approval in Kenya.
This move comes amid longstanding concerns from civil society groups and researchers over the approval of pesticides banned in Europe but allowed for use in Kenya, raising questions about double standards in global agrochemical regulation.
“These measures are aimed at ensuring that only globally accepted and scientifically proven pest control products are used in Kenya,” he said.
The Ministry has finalized the Draft Pest Control Products Bill, which has received Cabinet approval and will be tabled in Parliament. The bill seeks to tighten the conditions under which pest control products are approved and to align Kenya’s agricultural practices with international standards.
Promoting safer alternatives
Kagwe urged farmers, distributors, and agrochemical dealers to adopt safer pest control alternatives and comply with the new regulations. The Ministry has pledged to support farmers through education, extension services, and the promotion of integrated pest management practices.
In a related development, BASF collaborated with the PCPB, the International Centre for PPE (ICPPE) at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Syngenta in August 2024 to develop new protective clothing for pesticide applicators.
The ISO-certified garments are made of breathable, reusable textile materials to improve safety and comfort, especially in tropical climates.
According to ICPPE coordinator Anugrah Shaw, the new garments aim to balance protection and comfort to reduce heat stress, a major barrier to wearing protective clothing in hot conditions.
The clothing is certified under KS ISO 27065 C1, which defines performance requirements for minimum protective clothing worn by operators applying crop protection solutions and for re-entry workers.