Department of Agriculture set to inspect SA's 5 factories producing Terbufos

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Agriculture has been tasked with inspecting factories producing a pesticide linked to the deaths of many children in the country. 

Terbufos is a highly toxic chemical used to control pests and its legal use is restricted to the agricultural sector. 

The chemical, sold by vendors and some spaza shops without authorisation, is used by many households to kill rodents. 

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane said the agriculture department would monitor the distribution of the pesticide.

READ: Less than 1g to kill, and 1 minute to purchase: A deep dive into toxic ‘street pesticide’ terbufos

Simelane spoke during a press briefing held by the inter-ministerial team assigned to deal with food poisoning.

"But in the next few days the Department of Agriculture will conduct inspections at all five registered manufacturers of Terbufos to ascertain control and determine if markers are put into locally produced products, to distinguish between legally imported and locally produced chemicals," she said on Thursday.