The National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) pays particular attention to the management and control of the use of pesticides in agricultural activities, said Tuesday in Rabat, the Minister of Agriculture, maritime fishing, rural development and water and forests, Mohamed Sadiki.
In response to an oral question on “the control of the use of insecticides in agricultural activities”presented by the social justice and sustainable development group in the House of Councillors, Mohamed Sadiki indicated that the import and use of these pesticides are subject to a strict registration procedure, under the supervision of the National Commission for Pesticides for Agricultural Use.
ONSSA grants its authorization to pesticides that meet the technical criteria in force at the international level, and only allows the sale of pesticides that meet all the safety and efficacy conditions, while encouraging and the simplification of procedures concerning biological pesticides, he underlined.
The Office also carries out import controls on the quality of pesticides and other materials intended for agriculture, as well as accredited companies and distribution and sales points throughout the national territory, in inspecting the places of exhibition and storage of these substances and material and ensuring compliance with the conditions in terms of packaging, labelling, sales and purchase records and invoices, added the Minister.
In addition, ONSSA monitors pesticide residues in vegetables, fruits and aromatic plants intended for local consumption, by taking and analyzing samples from farms, wholesale markets, packaging units and supermarkets, in order to ensure the absence of banned or unauthorized pesticides and compliance with the authorized thresholds for these residues, said Mohamed Sadiki.
Since 2019, pesticide sellers have undergone a qualification and organization effort to better control the route of these substances, with more than 1,200 retail sellers registered to date, he said. he specified, noting that as part of the implementation of the decision relating to the register of maintenance and management of basic products of plant origin, ONSSA ensures that farmers are encouraged to use this register and to register all the data relating to the materials used in production, in particular pesticides.
This register makes it possible to monitor agricultural products and guarantee compliance with health standards, particularly with regard to pesticide residues, in addition to helping farmers to control the materials used in production, said Mohamed Sadiki. , noting that more than 3,600 samples have been taken for this purpose during the last two years.
The results of the analyzes show a drop in non-compliance compared to previous years, he highlighted, adding that the necessary measures have been taken with regard to offenders, including warnings and reports. fine against farmers who used unapproved pesticides, the destruction of 30 tons of non-compliant agricultural crops and the sending of more than 40 notices of violation to those responsible for wholesale markets and large commercial surfaces to take the necessary measures.
Since the beginning of 2022, some 2,500 sampling operations have been scheduled to analyze the residues of pesticides for agricultural use on vegetables, fruits, aromatic plants and other agricultural products, continued the Minister.
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