Tobacco industry says Malawi will lose out if DDT is used in malaria control

Controversy is spreading over plans in several Africa countries to re-introduce DDT, as part of malaria control efforts, In Malawi the tobacco industry has now weighed in to oppose the return of the pesticide.

Two years ago the World Health Organization said it was giving DDT ‘a clean bill of health’ for use in malaria control. WHO recommends the use of indoor residual spraying (IRS) not only in epidemic areas but also in areas with constant and high malaria transmission, including throughout Africa. Environmental groups across the world have since protested against this recommendation. For example, see the recent TropIKA.net news story from Uganda.

The tobacco industry’s products are responsible for a significant proportion of the global mortality and morbidity burden. However, tobacco exports account for over 75 per cent of Malawi’s foreign exchange earnings and the industry fears that it will lose customers overseas. An estimated 80% of employed Malawians work for the tobacco industry. Felix Mkumba, Secretary General of the Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA) said major buyers of Malawi tobacco, like the United States of America and Germany, did not want the leaf to be contaminated with DDT. Any trace of DDT in Malawi tobacco – no matter how insignificant – would result in cancellation of millions of dollars worth of orders.

The proposal to re-introduce DDT concerns only its use at low levels inside dwelling places. Malawi’s health authorities have pointed out that the pesticide would not come into contact with tobacco. Nevertheless, the industry continues to oppose the re-introduction.