Dubai/Ajman: Residents should avoid risking their lives by using cheap and unlicensed pesticide companies, senior municipal officials warn.
The caution comes in the wake of a weekend tragedy when a 35-year-old Filipina and two toddlers died in Fujairah and Ajman respectively, in suspected cases of pesticide poisoning.
Brigadier General Ali Alwan, Commander-in-Chief of Ajman Police, told Gulf News that his force continuously cooperates with the municipality to carry out inspections and curb the use of illegal pesticides.
Brig Alwan said that the Ajman case is the second such incident in two years related to pesticide poisoning. The first incident occurred in March 2010 when triplets died after inhaling fumes after pesticides were used.
“Pesticide companies should inform residents of the building before carrying out their work,” Brig. Alwan said. “ And they should also make the apartments aware as well as part of the precautionary measures.”
He stressed that pesticide companies failing to adhere to rules will be punished according to the provisions of the law.
At present there are only four pesticide companies registered with Ajman Municipality — in Dubai there are around 120 registered with the municipality.
“Every day a new pest control company pops up from somewhere,” said Abdul Rahman Ahmad, 34, a government employee. “Some operate illegally and pose a threat to the public but prove popular because they charge cheap rates.”
A police official in Fujairah said the force is still carrying out its investigation and is awaiting a report from the local municipality on the misuse of pesticides by pesticide companies.
In Dubai, safe pest control companies are those licensed from the Public Health Pest Control Section of Dubai Municipality. Those are licensed according to the specific requirements of Local Order No 11 for 2003, concerning public health and community safety.
“A periodical evaluation of the field operations of these companies are carried out by the Public Health Pest Control Section as per the specific inspection programme, and legal action will be taken against companies violating the above mentioned local order,” Dr Al Mahi Gubran, a public health pest specialist at the Pest Control Section at Dubai Municipality, said.
In 2012, the municipality issued a warning against the use of highly toxic chemicals such as aluminium phosphide, which can be found in grey tablet form and is used to exterminate rats and other vermin.
The Ministry of Environment and Water has also recently warned people against using unlicensed or unregistered pesticides. The ministry stressed that it registers all brands of pesticides that meet its public health and safety criteria, with a five-year licence usually issued for approved products.
“Companies must only use pesticides registered in the Ministry of Environment and Water, and all types of pesticides should be applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations,” Dr Gubran said,
He noted that all safety precautions should be considered by pest control companies before the begin any application or treatment.
The Ministry of Environment and Water had earlier specified that anybody dealing in pesticides musts carry stickers issued by ministry officials, specifying registration numbers and other information about the pests targeted by the particular products. This rule is still valid.
The ministry separates the pesticides into different types, depending on its type, dangers, level of toxicity to humans and animals, and damage it causes to the environment. The label also highlights information regarding the method of use of each product and whether it is meant for use inside buildings or for outside application.
