GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) in Guyana has denied the registration of “Zenden Mosquito Coil”, that is manufactured in China.

The denial means that the import, distribution, sale and use of the mosquito coil is prohibited in the country.

According to officials, the illegally imported Chinese mosquito coils have been an area of focus for the authority for quite some time and smugglers of these products have made little to no effort to register them.

The PTCCB says the process of pesticide registration allows the board to examine the toxicity characteristic of pesticide products to human health and the environment. It allows for more informed decision making regarding the import, distribution, sale and use of pesticides in Guyana.

In a statement, the Department of Public Information (DPI) says the PTCCB has spent years confiscating and disposing of these illegal “Chinese mosquito coils” through numerous enforcement exercises. The PTCCB has been and continues to raise awareness on the illegality and possible risks to human health and environment.

A recent registration submission for the “Zenden Mosquito Coil” revealed the product to be a Class 1A carcinogen.

This means that the product is “known to cause cancer in humans”. The product also has potential to cause germ cell mutation in humans. It is also classified as a highly hazardous pesticide (HHP) and poses significant risk to human health and the environment.

The PTCCB began confiscating illegal mosquito coils in 2008 and to date has confiscated 4,435.08 kilogrammes of these products.

The following brands of mosquito coils are registered for sale and use in Guyana and are therefore recommended for use by the PTCCB – Fish, Protox, Baygon, Raid, Vape and BOP.