Bill targets unsafe pesticide sales on online platforms
The Bill would require digital platforms to implement verification systems capable of confirming seller certification and product registration before allowing listings to go live. This step is designed to prevent unlicensed dealers from exploiting online channels and to safeguard consumers from unsafe or unapproved chemical products.
The sale of pesticides on digital platforms may soon come under tighter regulation if Parliament passes a new Bill aimed at closing long-standing loopholes.
Introduced by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, the Pest Control Products Bill, 2025, would require online marketplaces to ensure that every seller is licensed and all products are registered with a proposed regulatory body.
More To Read
- Kenya Kwanza adds Sh3 trillion to national debt in three years, CBK reveals
- Governance Committee orders mandatory audit attendance for university heads
- IEBC urges Parliament to fast-track election reforms for fairness and speed
- Court confirms public notice in pesticide ban petition, allows farmers to join case
- Wetang’ula decries 'disruptive' conservatory orders, urges judicial restraint
- KEPSA calls on Parliament to enact reforms to stabilise public universities after 49-day lecturers’ strike
“No person shall offer an online platform for the sale, advertisement, or marketing of pest control products unless that person ensures that persons using the platform are certified by the authority and the pest control products are registered by the Authority in accordance with this Act,” the Bill states.
It further provides for penalties of up to Sh 50,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both for violations, signalling a firm stance on illegal pesticide trade.
The Bill would require digital platforms to implement verification systems capable of confirming seller certification and product registration before allowing listings to go live. This step is designed to prevent unlicensed dealers from exploiting online channels and to safeguard consumers from unsafe or unapproved chemical products.
The proposed Pest Control Products Authority would be responsible for registering pesticides, licensing handlers, enforcing standards, and monitoring compliance across the sector, creating a central regulatory structure to oversee all aspects of pesticide trade.
Under the draft legislation, the Authority would maintain detailed national registers of certified dealers, licensed outlets, approved products, and inspection results.
This comprehensive database is expected to strengthen traceability and improve oversight across Kenya’s pesticide market.
Mandatory certification would apply to all stakeholders handling pesticides, including manufacturers, distributors, formulators, and retailers, creating a uniform framework for licensing and ensuring consistent compliance nationwide.
County governments would also be empowered to inspect dealers, monitor pesticide movements, and collaborate with national regulators to curb illegal circulation, further reinforcing accountability at both local and national levels.
The Bill goes beyond regulation of sales to address safe disposal of pesticides. It mandates that all pesticide waste be handled through approved facilities, with clear procedures for disposal and coordinated monitoring to prevent environmental contamination from expired chemicals.
Regulators would be authorised to carry out scientific reviews of products, allowing them to restrict or withdraw pesticides found to pose health or environmental risks.
By combining licensing, monitoring, enforcement, and scientific evaluation, the legislation seeks to create a fully integrated system for pesticide oversight.
If enacted, the Bill is expected to transform the way pesticides are sold, handled, and monitored across Kenya, enhancing safety for consumers, protecting the environment, and ensuring that all players in the sector are accountable to national standards.
Experts say the proposed law could significantly reduce illegal trade in hazardous chemicals while strengthening public confidence in Kenya’s pesticide market.
Top Stories Today
