By Trudy Simpson, Staff ReporterTHE PESTICIDES Control Authority (PCA) is stepping up its monitoring of various establishments, including supermarkets and retailers, following its seizure of several unregistered pesticides from a retailer last week.
Last Wednesday, the authority made reports to the Half-Way Tree Police Station after it seized 15 products made with at least one unregistered chemical from a retailer who had ignored a stop sale order.
The police said yesterday that it was not ready to disclose details on that case but an official at the PCA said he expected a warrant to be issued against the retailer soon.
Both police personnel and the PCA refuse to disclose the retailer's name to The Gleaner or allow the newspaper to take photographs of the seized products.
In the meantime, PCA investigators are to continue monitoring not only farm stores but variety stores, wholesalers and supermarkets for these unregistered pesticides.
"The monitoring was at first on farm stores but the nature of the violations got larger and we started moving on to other stores," said Kerry Helligar, the PCA's investigating officer.
He said the PCA is currently concentrating on establishments in Kingston and St. Andrew but that net will soon be widened to include establishments in all parishes.
A Ministry of Health release indicated that the products seized are Combat spray; Combat Quick Roach formula, Combat Quick Ant Formula, Combat Killing Gel; Combat Source Kill Roach; D-Con Rat and Mouse Bait Blocks; Hot Shot Mouse Killer; Hot Shot Roach and Ant Killer; Black Flag Ant and Roach Killer; Kill Zone Ant and Roach Killer; Kill Zone Wasp; Bee and Hornet Killer; Bengal Wasp and Hornet; Bengal Ultra Dust fire ants killer; Terror outdoor Ant Killer; Sevin Lawn and Garden granules.
Manufacturers and retailers were warned three years ago that after June, 2000, anyone found to be manufacturing or repackaging pesticides without a licence from the PCA could face a $50,000 fine and or a six-month prison term.
By doing this, they will be in breach of Section 9 sub-section 1 of the Pesticides Regulations 1996. The Pesticide Act 1975 also requires that persons obtain a licence before manufacturing or repackaging pesticides.
Persons need to do the following to obtain a licence:
Submit a completed application form with a fee of $7,500.
A permit on waste management systems is then obtained from the National Environment and Planning Agency.
The manufacturers and repackagers must also obtain certification from the Bureau of Standards on packaging material and having their plant inspected.
If approved, the licence will be granted for a period of five years. A licence is required for each pesticide the manufacturer or repackager produces or packages.
