The Plateau Council on Health has approved a proposal to establish a Directorate of Food Safety to strengthen the regulation of food, cosmetics and water safety in the state.

Mr Kim Bot, Director-General (D-G) of the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Consumables Management Agency, said this in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Jos.

Bot, a pharmacist, said the proposal was presented and approved by the council, the state’s apex health policymaking body, to strengthen food safety regulation and address concerns about products consumed by residents.

He said research conducted by the agency showed that 84 per cent of food vendors in the state lacked the required certification to operate, raising concerns about quality assurance and food safety.

The D-G added that the research indicated that 91.3 per cent of traders selling grains and vegetables were unregistered, highlighting gaps in food safety monitoring and regulatory compliance.

He expressed concern over the use of Sniper, an insecticide, to preserve grains, particularly beans, saying some traders sold treated products before the chemical’s effects had sufficiently worn off.

According to him, the chemical could take at least six months for its effects to wear off, while some traders sold treated grains after only one month.

Bot warned that consuming such products could expose residents to potential health risks, emphasising the need for stronger food safety monitoring, enforcement and regulation across the state.

He also raised concerns about the use of fertilisers and pesticides in cultivating crops, including yams and sweet potatoes, urging greater attention to agricultural inputs and food safety.

Bot said the proposed directorate, to be domiciled in the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Consumables Management Agency, would strengthen food safety regulation without interfering with NAFDAC’s statutory functions.

He commended the council for approving the memorandum, adding that it would be forwarded to the governor and the Plateau State House of Assembly for further consideration.

Newsmen report that the 12th Plateau State Council on Health meeting commenced on Oct. 20 and ended on Oct. 22, with the theme, “From Policy to People: Consolidating Quality Universal Health Coverage and Health Security on the Plateau.”