Farmers are advised to stop using insecticides 14 days prior to harvesting. Although new laws are introduced to ban some items, some are still freely available in the market, he said. He was addressing a press briefing with regard to the National Poisoning Prevention Week which commenced yesterday. It will continue until September 20. The theme will be ‘Preventing Household Poisoning.’

CAA Information Director Chandrika Tilakaratne said sometimes traders sell used cooking oil and expired food items to large hotels. Drinking water bottles are refilled with tap water.

Sprats are being fumigated. Coriander is imported to Sri Lanka after extracting its oil, he said.

He added that certain types of plants such as Kohila (Lacia Aculeata) absorbs metal which can be poisonous. Potatoes which are green in colour can also be poisonous.tre Head Dr. Waruna Gunathilake said Sri Lanka has the highest number of deaths due to poisoning in South East Asia. Snake bites are the common type of poisoning in Sri Lanka. The highest number of poisoning incidents are reported from homes. The highest number of victims are children between one and five years of age. Domestic poisoning incidents are on the rise. Common poisons are those used to kill rats, mosquito coils and toilet cleaners, Dr. Gunathilake said.

Pesticides Registration Office Research Officer Dr. J. A. Sumith and others spoke.