Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Osita Aboloma, has commended the Consumer who reported a Beans Vendor for using pesticide for the preservation of the crop on sale to the Police.
A statement from his office in Abuja posited that such individual and collective awareness by Consumers in general are essential for effective standards implementation and enforcement in Nigeria.
Aboloma urged Nigerians in general to take greater interest in their welfare by reporting to relevant regulatory and security agencies any suspected unwholesome, substandard or life endangering products or practices.
According to him, there are relevant Nigeria Industrial Standard and Codes of Practice for beans along the value chain, to take care of issues concerning the proper preservation of the crop from planting to the table and assure the safety of Consumers in Nigeria.
He enumerated the Standard and Codes of Practice as follows; Standard for Dry Beans (NIS 1030: 2018); Code of Good Agricultural Practice: Planting of Dry Beans (NCP 065: 2018); Code of Good Practice: Harvesting of Dry Beans (NCP 067: 2018); Code of Practice for Packaging of Dry Beans (NCP 064: 2018) and Code of Practice: Storage and Transportation of Dry Beans (NCP 066: 2018).
The Standard and Codes of Practices, which have been approved for use by the Standards Council according to the statement, were results of consensus decisions by stakeholders, including, farmers, processors, Federal Ministry of Agriculture (FMoA) officials, regulatory agencies, academicians, research institutes and consumer advocates among others, while SON officials provided the Secretariat.
The SON Chief Executive stated that arrangements are ongoing among the FMoA, other regulatory agencies and SON for a nationwide advocacy programme for farmers, processors and extension workers in States and Local Governments on the standard and codes of practice for beans and other grains.
Recall that the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) recently confirmed by credible information that retailers, mostly in the open market, are using a pesticide, 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (DDVP) compound otherwise marketed and known as “Sniper” to preserve beans, and more particularly to eliminate or protect from weevils.
The Council, further advised consumers to make sufficient inquiries prior to purchases, and when uncertain, especially with respect to stock already purchased, to parboil extensively, before further cooking for consumption, adding that in any and every case, thoroughly washing food items before consumption or preparation for consumption is a generally accepted method of protecting and promoting safety.
