Usage management of Public Health Pesticides in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

1. Usage & management of Public Health Pesticides in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia WHO/UNEP inter-country workshop on public health pesticides management in the Mediterranean region in context of the Stockholm convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) Amman, Jordan, 7-11 December Prepared By: Mohammed Al-Helal Ministry of Health (MOH) Saudi Arabia

2. Control activities/measures currently in use House spraying ( DDT -until 1986… delta.25% & lambda.10% since 1987 ) Larviciding operations ( temephos 50%, 1% granules – Insect G. R. (pyriproxyfen 1% granules & diflubenzuron 0.5% wp) - (BTI 1200 iun/mg) – larvivorous fish Space spraying using pyrethroid (ultra-low-volume and thermal fogging) Distribution of impregnated nets – 1 million nets Health education Training

3. Public Health Pesticides Management Registration, legislation, and licensing All public health pesticides are registered, legislated and licensed through the Ministry of Agriculture. MOH is not responsible for legislation and licensing MOH… selecting the quantities and types of public health pesticides (vector control) A certificate of analysis for the pesticide is required from the supplier

4. Application, disposal and quality control of pesticides MOH through vector control department follows the WHO recommendations regarding application and disposal The quality control of pesticides is monitoring by the Saudi Arabia Standards Organaization (SASO ). Each pesticide used in vector control should be those recommended by the WHO Before using any recommended pesticide in vector control, it must be tested/applied in a trial study MOH is responsible for disposal of the expired public health pesticides, which have been used by its teams.

5. Formulation and re-packaging There are four factories manufacturing pesticides for public health and agriculture Each factory has its own formulation procedure according to the manufacturers’ specifications MOH follows the WHO specifications regarding pesticide safety and efficacy There is no re-packaging in S. A.

6. Storage, transport and distribution There are no specific legislation in place for storage of pesticides within the MOH Annual needs of insecticides are procured through the tender committee of the MOH (central tendering process) 10% of the supplies of pesticides are stored in the MOH head office The remaining 90% is distributed to vector control departments in the disease endemic regions

7. Monitoring insecticide resistance Monitoring for insecticide resistance is done regularly as part of the programmes’ activities In 1982 for example strains of Anopheles arabiensis and A. sergenti were subjected to tests and found susceptible to DDT In 1987 they were reported resistant to DDT – leading to suspension of DDT During 2003 susceptibility tests carried out on adult Culex and larvae gave the following results:

8. -For larvae: High level resistance of temephos was reported very recently with Culex (Culex tritaeniorhynchus) in Gizan Region However, A. molticolor was found susceptible to temephos A. arabiensis was not tested at the time because of scarcity (small numbers) With WHO support this activity is being strengthened (provision of test supplies and technical support) cont…Monitoring insecticide resistance

9. Public health pesticides used in Saudi Arabia 1996-2002

10. Monitoring and surveillance of pesticide poisoning Cholinesterase tests are being carried out regularly for both workers and inhabitants/residents and there have been no cases of poisoning reported

11. The challenges facing pesticides management in S.A. Several sectors use pesticides (Agriculture, Municipalities, MOH, private companies etc.) and there is no specific responsible agency for monitoring insecticides resistance Some sectors who use insecticides don’t have enough facilities to monitor the use of insecticides The responsibility of insecticides management is distributed among ministries and governmental organizations with no coordination Programmes are required by law to purchase local products irrespective of their quality and efficacy

12. Prospective malaria and other vector borne diseases control Ensure standardized pesticides policy in the Kingdom Develop pesticides resistance management strategies with the support of WHO Develop an early warning system for vector-borne diseases prediction Strengthen border cooperation with the Republic of Yemen Aim at eliminating residual malaria foci through a strong time-limited control measures