(BROOKLYN, New York): CARIBBEAN TIMES NEWS has learned that a popular Chinese brand of mosquito coil or ‘cockset’ was recently banned in Guyana over concerns that the product causes cancer in humans. The pesticides and toxic chemicals control (PTCCB) board said in a statement that it has recently denied the registration of “Zenden Mosquito Coil” as the coil is a known carcinogen. This denial prohibits import, distribution, sale and use of the mosquito coil in Guyana.
Guyana’s Ministry of Agriculture said an examination of “Zenden Mosquito Coil” revealed the product to be a Class 1A carcinogen, meaning it is known to cause cancer in humans.
“The product also has potential to cause germ cell mutation in humans. it is also classified as a highly hazardous pesticide (HHP) and poses significant risk to human health and the environment.The human health risk to exposure to Zenden Mosquito Coil is high. Additionally, the registration data submitted had numerous other areas of non-compliances,” the ministry said.
Guyana said the illegally imported Chinese mosquito coils have been an area of focus for the authority for quite some time. “Smugglers of these products have made little to no effort to register the products which are suspected to be dangerous to human health and the environment,” the ministry of agriculture said.
The process of pesticide registration allows the PTCCB to examine the toxicity characteristic of pesticide products to human health and the environment. It allows for more informed decision making regarding the import, distribution, sale and use of pesticides in Guyana.
The PTCCB said it has spent years confiscating and disposing of these illegal “Chinese mosquito coils” through numerous enforcement exercises and said it continues to raise awareness on the illegality and possible risks to human health and environment. Guyana said the PTCCB has been confiscating illegal mosquito coils since 2008 and to date has confiscated over four tons of these products.
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