The government has prohibited the importation, production, distribution, sale and use of products containing dichlorvos as it moves to protect Congolese families from serious toxic exposure.
KINSHASA, August 27, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo has ordered the immediate nationwide withdrawal of insecticides containing dichlorvos, including the widely used product sold under the SNIPER brand, following repeated warnings about acute and fatal poisoning risks.
The decision marks a major public-health intervention involving a chemical product commonly found in homes and commercial outlets across the country.
According to the regulatory decision reported by BETO, the Congolese Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority, known as ACOREP, has withdrawn the marketing authorizations for specialties and generic products containing dichlorvos, also identified as DDVP.
The prohibition applies to the importation, manufacture, distribution, commercialization and use of affected products throughout the DRC. Importers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers have been instructed to remove existing stocks from circulation and secure them for destruction under the supervision of ACOREP.
ACOREP said its intervention followed health alerts, recurring cases of acute and fatal intoxication and scientific evidence pointing to significant toxicological risks.
The regulator's action gives the government a clear public-health message: products containing dichlorvos should no longer be sold or used in Congolese homes, businesses or agricultural activities.
Opinion Info confirmed that the withdrawal is immediate and national. The measure covers more than the SNIPER brand name; it applies to every regulated product containing dichlorvos.
This distinction is important because the chemical may appear under different commercial names. Consumers and traders should therefore check the active ingredients listed on insecticide containers instead of relying only on the brand displayed on the front.
Why dichlorvos is considered dangerous
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
DRC Bans SNIPER Insecticide Over Poisoning Risks
DRC orders the nationwide withdrawal of SNIPER and all products containing dichlorvos following serious poisoning and health-risk warnings.
August 27, 2026 at 8:17:56 AM
August 27, 2026 at 8:42:13 AM
🕒 4 min read
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
The government has prohibited the importation, production, distribution, sale and use of products containing dichlorvos as it moves to protect Congolese families from serious toxic exposure.
KINSHASA, August 27, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo has ordered the immediate nationwide withdrawal of insecticides containing dichlorvos, including the widely used product sold under the SNIPER brand, following repeated warnings about acute and fatal poisoning risks.
The decision marks a major public-health intervention involving a chemical product commonly found in homes and commercial outlets across the country.
According to the regulatory decision reported by BETO, the Congolese Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority, known as ACOREP, has withdrawn the marketing authorizations for specialties and generic products containing dichlorvos, also identified as DDVP.
The prohibition applies to the importation, manufacture, distribution, commercialization and use of affected products throughout the DRC. Importers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers have been instructed to remove existing stocks from circulation and secure them for destruction under the supervision of ACOREP.
ADVERTISEMENT
ACOREP said its intervention followed health alerts, recurring cases of acute and fatal intoxication and scientific evidence pointing to significant toxicological risks.
The regulator's action gives the government a clear public-health message: products containing dichlorvos should no longer be sold or used in Congolese homes, businesses or agricultural activities.
Opinion Info confirmed that the withdrawal is immediate and national. The measure covers more than the SNIPER brand name; it applies to every regulated product containing dichlorvos.
ADVERTISEMENT
This distinction is important because the chemical may appear under different commercial names. Consumers and traders should therefore check the active ingredients listed on insecticide containers instead of relying only on the brand displayed on the front.
Why dichlorvos is considered dangerous
Dichlorvos is an organophosphate insecticide used for pest control. A World Health Organization technical fact sheet identifies inhibition of cholinesterase activity and resulting neurotoxicity as the most sensitive toxic effect following acute or repeated exposure.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency says serious exposure can produce symptoms including sweating, vomiting, diarrhoea, tiredness, headaches and, at high concentrations, convulsions or coma.
Anyone who believes that they or another person has been exposed should seek urgent professional medical assistance and provide health workers with the product container or its label when it is safe to do so.
ADVERTISEMENT
What shops and households need to know
Businesses should stop selling or distributing SNIPER and other products containing dichlorvos. Households should stop using affected products and keep them away from children, food and drinking water while awaiting instructions from the authorities on safe collection and disposal.
Products should not be resold, given to another household or returned to informal circulation. ACOREP has said affected stocks are to be secured for supervised destruction.
The decision represents a strong regulatory step, but implementation will now determine its full impact. Authorities will need to communicate collection locations, safe-disposal procedures, inspection arrangements and the sanctions applicable to businesses that fail to comply.
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED ARTICLE
