The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) has confiscated a 40-foot container loaded with unlicensed and illegally imported mosquito incense sticks at a Container Freight Station (CFS) in Mombasa, citing serious health risks to consumers.
The container was found with 520 boxes of mosquito sticks that had been falsely declared as mosquito chips and coils in the Bill of Lading.
The consignment had been undervalued at Sh1 million despite its actual worth being estimated at Sh6 million.
The products, imported from China, were seized at the Makupa Transit Shed, a customs-bonded area.
PCPB is conducting investigations into the consignment before apprehending and arraigning the importer, whose identity has not yet been disclosed.
PCPB Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Fredrick Muchiri, said the products had previously been found on sale by distributors mainly in Garissa County, prompting compliance officers to launch investigations aimed at identifying the main importer.
“We had to put systems in place to try and nab the person who has been bringing the products into the country. Today, we are very lucky because we have managed to seize this container,” said Muchiri.
He noted that the product documentation had been altered, explaining that the consignment had initially been assigned to a different CFS, before PCPB officers successfully traced it to Makupa CFS.
“From the documentation as well, what had been declared is actually not what is here. It was meant to disguise the products and facilitate quick movement, but with the systems in place, we managed to intercept it before it moved out,” the CEO disclosed.
He added, “If it had moved out, it would have been very difficult to track because of traceability challenges.”
PCPB further cautioned members of the public against using unlicensed pest control products, stressing that beyond effectiveness, the products must also be safe for human use because such chemicals are toxic and poisonous.
“It is not only about effectiveness. We look at both the effectiveness and the safety of human beings,” Muchiri said.
The CEO explained that pest control products approved for use in Kenya are scientifically evaluated and verified to target specific pests, warning consumers against products marketed as capable of killing all pests.
“The more you look for a product that can kill everything, the higher the chances are that you are also poisoning yourself. We are advising the public to use pest control products registered for use in Kenya and strictly follow label instructions,” he stated.
PCPB Coast Regional Manager Stanley Nganga said importing unlicensed pest control products into the country is a criminal offence because the products pose health risks to consumers.
“A product must be licensed by PCPB, and importers must obtain a PCPB import permit before bringing such products into the country,” said Nganga, adding that investigations into the consignment are ongoing.
By Sadik Hassan
