Abubakar Marwan, head of the Food and Drug Control Centre unit in Souq Al-Jumaa, has sounded a grave warning about the widespread use of globally banned pesticides across Libyan markets, suggesting this practice may be a primary driver behind the country’s soaring cancer rates.
Speaking on Al-Massar TV, Marwan underlined the urgent necessity for establishing sophisticated national laboratories capable of comprehensive food testing and analysis. He stressed that this move is vital for pinpointing the actual causes of disease proliferation, whether traceable to pesticides, plastic packaging materials, or other toxic agents. Marwan revealed a severe shortfall in the local laboratory capacity required to verify food safety standards.
The head of the control unit insisted that the issue of prohibited pesticides is a concrete and present danger, not merely a theoretical assumption or conspiracy. He recounted personal field visits to various areas, including Al-Njeela, Janzour, Wadi Al-Rabea, Qasr Bin Ghashir, and Msallata, which confirmed the availability of internationally banned pesticides in stores, describing the entry of these substances into the country as an “unknown affliction.” He confirmed that a significant portion—potentially exceeding 80% in some markets—of the pesticides used on locally grown (including in the country’s south) and imported fruits and vegetables are globally prohibited.
In a related concern, Marwan highlighted the lack of effective supervision over foreign labourers in charge of agricultural production, which exacerbates the risk of toxic material circulation. Marwan implored the government to take immediate action, calling for the implementation of safe alternatives for farmers and the application of strict regulatory controls in markets. This, he argued, is essential to shield the public from grave illnesses and avoid the substantial financial burden of sending cancer patients abroad for treatment.
Marwan also emphasized the importance of relying on credible international expertise and laboratories for verification processes, noting that test results from accredited German labs are beyond reproach. He referenced a previous incident involving Saudi milk, where Libyan results were corroborated by German analyses, leading to a formal apology from the Saudi side. This, he concluded, underscores the capability of local experts to work effectively with foreign laboratories to achieve the most accurate results.