Agricultural chemical dealers have been reminded that though their products help in promoting food security, they could kill when not properly handled and could negatively affect the agricultural export potentials of the country.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Director of Environmental Protection Agency, Francis Nyagbanu said this at the opening of a two-day forum on the reduction of fake and adulterated agro-chemicals for members of the Eastern Regional branch of the Ghana Agro-Input Dealers Association (GAIDA) at Koforidua.
Mr Nyagbanu said from next year, the EPA would be taking to task agro-input dealers who had not registered with the EPA and explained that.
"EPA has the power to close down agro-chemical shops not registered with the EPA and to persecute the owners whose practices contravenes the law."
He complained about the selling of agro-chemicals in vans on some markets in the region during market days and appealed to the members of GAIDA to co-operate with the EPA to help stop such negative practices.
The National President of GAIDA, Theodore Akuffo said the presence of fake and adulterated products in the agro-chemical business was a threat to the business.
Charles K. Bluie of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture said the ministry had come out with a pesticide management policy and urged the participants to get a coy of the policy to guide them in their work.
