EAC experts convene to validate regional strategy on highly hazardous pesticides

Harare, Zimbabwe, The East African Community (EAC) today opened a two-day validation workshop for the EAC Strategy on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) in Harare, Zimbabwe. The workshop, organized and convened by the EAC and hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Subregional Office for Southern Africa, is supported through the European Union (EU) funded ACP-MEAs 3 project.

The meeting brings together technical experts from eight EAC Partner States Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania) with support from the African Union (AU) Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (IAPSC), the EAC Secretariat ,  and the Centre for Environment, Justice and Development (CEJAD), to review and validate the draft regional strategy, which aims to strengthen pesticide regulation, promote safer agricultural practices, and protect human and environmental health across the region.

EAC experts convene to validate regional strategy on highly hazardous pesticides ©FAO/Donald Chidoori

Opening the session, in a speech read on his behalf Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative in Zimbabwe, reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting regional initiatives that promote sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.

“Reducing risks from Highly Hazardous Pesticides is at the core of FAO’s work,” said Patrice Talla. “The validation of this strategy will help the East African region move towards safer, more sustainable pest management by strengthening regulation and promoting viable alternatives. This effort contributes directly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring no one is left behind.”

HHPs are pesticides known to cause severe health and environmental impacts.   emphasized that although HHPs account for a small percentage of pesticides used in most countries, they cause disproportionate harm to human and environmental health, death and sickness associated with pesticide poisoning and biodiversity.

Ivy Saunyama, Agricultural Officer with FAO. ©FAO/Donald Chidoori

The draft EAC HHP Strategy, developed through extensive consultations since 2023, outlines a regional framework for phasing out HHPs, enhancing national regulatory systems, and improving information sharing and coordination among Partner States.

“This strategy envisions an East African region where human and environmental health are safeguarded through the elimination of Highly Hazardous Pesticides,” said Fahari Marwa, Principal Agricultural Economist, from the EAC Secretariat. “Our goal is to ensure that the strategy reflects both national realities and regional aspirations for safer and more productive agriculture.”

Representing the African Union’s Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC), Sandrine Bayendi Loudit commended the EAC’s leadership and reiterated the AU’s support for continental cooperation on pesticide management.

Dr. Sandrine Mariella BAYENDI LOUDIT, Senior Scientific Officer - Entomology. African Union  - Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC). ©FAO/Donald Chidoori

“The AU remains committed to supporting the development of sustainable plant health systems and fostering cooperation among Member States,” she said. “Initiatives like this are vital for protecting farmers, consumers, and biodiversity while facilitating safer agricultural trade.”

Once validated and adopted, the EAC HHP Strategy is expected to significantly reduce pesticide-related risks, enhance regional cooperation, and contribute to safer, more sustainable agrifood systems across East Africa.

The workshop precedes the ACP Interregional Dialogue on Reducing Risks from Highly Hazardous Pesticides, scheduled from 12–14 November in Harare. That meeting will bring together regulators and experts from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific to exchange experiences and strengthen global collaboration on HHP risk reduction.

Through the ACP-MEAs 3 project, funded by the European Union, FAO supports countries and regional bodies in strengthening biodiversity and chemicals management in agriculture, in alignment with the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–31 and global conventions such as the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.