Among 17 potentially toxic insecticides still sold in Manila markets – FDA

Health authorities warned the public against at least 17 unregistered household insecticides being sold in markets, saying these could be potentially toxic.

 

The Food and Drug Administration said the unregistered insecticides may be dangerous to health as "the active ingredient is unknown and may cause harm to consumers."

 

"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves only insecticides that are low in mammalian toxicity but knock the insects down upon contact. Insecticides used at home are classified as household hazardous substances and the FDA makes sure that highly toxic substances should not be used in homes with pets or children," FDA acting head Kenneth Hartigan-Go said in Advisory 2013-031. 
 

Among the 17 products Hartigan-Go described as harmful, toxic and imminently dangerous to human and animal health were:

 

- Tianshi Insect Killer 750 mL Aerosol Can (Spray), HangZhou Huayi Aerosol Co. Ltd., China

 

- Big Bie Pai Extra Power Flying Insect Killer 750 ml Aerosol Can (Spray) HangZhou Huayi Aerosol Co. Ltd., China

 

- Butiki Watebased Multi-Insect Killer - Jasmine 750 mL Aerosol Can (Spray), possibly locally manufactured

 

- General Toad Aerosol Insecticide 750 mL Aerosol Can (Spray), Beijing Chuyan Industry and Trade Centre, China

 

- Wawang Frogking Insecticide Aerosol 750 mL (Rose) Aerosol Can (Spray) Wawang (Fujian) Daily Chemical Ind. Co. Ltd., China

 

- Sun Universe Frogking Insecticide Aerosol Lemon 750 mL Aerosol Can (Spray) Wawang (Fujian) Daily Chemical Ind. Co. Ltd., China

 

- Read a Dream Insecticide Spray 600 mL, Aerosol Can (Spray) Yuanlong (Fujian) Commodity Co. Ltd., Jinjiang City, Fujian Province, China

 

- Baolilai Aerosol Insecticide 750 mL Aerosol Can (Spray) Huangzhu Huayi Aerosol Co. Ltd-Huanzhou City-China

 

- Big Bie Pai Aerosol Insecticide 750 mL Aerosol Can (Spray) Huangzhu Huayi Aerosol Co. Ltd-Huanzhou City, China

 

Also, he warned against these unregistered toxic insecticides:

 

- Wawang Mosquito Coil (labelled as Foreign Character, from unknown source)

 

- BaoMa Black Mosquito Repellent Incense Coil, Fujian Jinjiang Benna Mosquito Repellent Incense Co., Ltd., China

 

- Juzhongwang Black Mosquito Repellent Coil, Juzhongwang, China

 

- Kingba Mini-Smoke Mosquito Repeller Coil, Kingba, China

 

- Tianshi Black Mosquito Repellent Incense Coil, HangZhou Aerosol Co. Ltd., China

 

- Read A Dream Black Mosquito Repellant Incense Coil, China

 

- Green Leaf Powder Cockroach Killing Bait 5g Powder (Sachet) Beijing Greenleaf Century Daily Use Chemical Co. Ltd., China

 

He also warned against an unregistered toxic insect repellant to be sprayed on the body and clothings, Natural Insect Repellent 50 mL Solution, which is distributed by Vitamin World Corp., Philippines.

 

Harmful effects

 

Hartigan-Go said some insecticides need to carry health warning for asthmatics while others can cause skin rashes.

 

"There are situations when active ingredients interfere with the metabolism of prescribed medications people are taking for a serious illness, thereby causing complications," he said.

 

For now, he said the FDA Inspectorate is taking regulatory actions to ensure that these products are removed from the market.

 

He said the FDA has called on the Bureau of Custom to "remain vigilant in preventing the entry of toxic substances in the country."

 

Also, he said the FDA is requesting the local government units to ensure that these unregistered toxic insecticides products are confiscated and kept away from consumers.

 

Some still sold in Manila

 

As of September 2, however, an ecological group said some vendors in Manila continue to sell the toxic insecticides. EcoWaste Coalition reported to the FDA that at least 65 retail outlets in Divisoria, Quiapo and Sta. Cruz in Manila still sell banned insecticides.

 

These include:

 

- Baolilai Aerosol Insecticide

- Big Bie Pai Aerosol Insecticide

- Big Bie Pai Extra Power Flying Insect Killer

- Butiki Water-Based Multi-Insect Killer

- General Toad Aerosol Insecticide

- Read a Dream Insecticide

- Sun Universe Frogking Insecticide Aerosol Lemon

- Tianshi Insect Killer

- Wawang Frogking Insecticide Aerosol.

 

The group also bought banned mosquito coils for P20-P25 per box such as:

 

- Read a Dream Black Mosquito Repellent Incense Coil

- Tianshi Black Mosquito Repellent Incense Coil

- Wawang Mosquito Coil.

 

Other products being sold were not listed in the FDA List of Registered Hazardous Products, including:

 

- Black Swirl Wind Aerosol Insecticide, P200/can

- Kingever Insect Killer Spray, P75/can

- Sky Warriors Aerosol Insecticide, P100/can

- Grand Lion Yao Lengen Micro-Smoke Mosquito Repellent Incense, P20/box.

 

Verify registration

 

To check if a household product is registered with the FDA, Hartigan-Go urged consumers to visit the FDA website and type the name of the product in the "Search" bar found in the upper right hand corner.

 

They can also email the FDA via info@fda.gov.ph, or report unregistered products or any problem with the use of registered products at report@fda.gov.ph. – KDM, GMA News