Uganda: NDA bans four poultry drugs

The National Drug Authority (NDA) of Uganda has banned four veterinary drugs used in the country’s poultry production, saying the chicken may be dangerous to human life when consumed.

The controversial drugs, according to NDA, include Fuzol, Apealyte, Cospro-F and Neophil, which are used by many farmers for treating poultry disease. It has been reported that the toxic content of the drugs stays in the tissue and eggs of birds, long after usage.

“These drugs have been withdrawn from the market because they have been discovered to cause cancer to human life once they are consumed through these poultry products,” Dr Benard Sibwomo, the NDA inspector of drugs, said.

Speaking in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, Dr Sibwomo warned suppliers of the controversial drugs that they would be arrested and charged in courts. He also asked the public to be vigilant and report those selling the prohibited drugs to the authorities.

Dr Sibwomo said they received a report about the drugs last year and immediately started cracking down on the people selling them. “We have started a system to detect a diverse drug reaction system and take a quick response,” he added.