The Department of Health (DOH) has suspended and shutdown all farms that have been caught burning insecticides inside chest freezers used as storage for agricultural products grown on and harvested from these farms.
The insecticides include mosquito coils and repellants. It’s believed that the practice of burning mosquito oils and repellants in chest freezers where agricultural produce are stored hasten the ripening of produce, such as papaya and bananas.
DoH announced yesterday that all farms with evidence of burning insecticides in chest freezers used to store their agricultural produce will also be shut down. In addition, all farms with unacceptable septic and/or sewer line(s) used for waste disposal directly on to the ground and around farm areas will also be closed.
The department says such conditions pose imminent danger and/serious health risks to the public. Specifically, the exposure of agricultural products used for public consumption to chemicals used in and released by insecticides are harmful and pose serious health risks to the public. Appropriate waste disposal practices are to be used and adhered to.
Further, all farms and food and retail establishments where food and agricultural products are sold locally to the public must adhere to food safety practices as outlined in Title 25 of American Samoa Code Annotated and the American Samoa Administrative Code.
Failure to comply will result in the issuance of a citation and/or fine and/or closure of the establishment indefinitely.
