Somali National Pesticides Policy.

The Somali National Pesticides Policy (2019) establishes a framework for regulating pesticide trade and use in Somalia. It seeks to increase agricultural productivity and incomes through sustainable access to safe, effective and affordable pesticides, while supporting food security, public health and environmental protection. The Policy promotes a gradual, proportionate and market-friendly regulatory approach based on stakeholder participation, regional cooperation, transparency, risk management and integrated pest management. The Policy calls for legislation establishing a competent pesticides authority, a registration board and registrar, together with procedures for product registration, review and re-registration. It provides for registers of approved pesticides and suppliers; import controls; product-quality standards; licensing of manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and commercial applicators; and requirements governing packaging, labelling, advertising, storage, transport, use and disposal. Further provisions concern protective equipment, worker training and health monitoring, incident reporting, inspections, offences, penalties and controls against counterfeit, substandard, expired or improperly labelled pesticides. Implementation will be led by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in coordination with federal-state authorities, health, water and environmental institutions, universities, farmer organisations, civil society, development partners and the private sector. Measures include establishing a Somali Pesticide Board, providing extension services and farmer field schools, strengthening pest and disease research, monitoring pesticide residues and environmental impacts, and promoting safer products and integrated pest management.