Joint statement: the EU must keep its promise & end toxic trade of banned pesticides

Over 600 civil society organisations and trade unions have joined forces in a joint statement calling on the European Commission to honour its commitment to end the export of pesticides banned inside the EU.

The EU has rightly banned many pesticides too dangerous for use within its borders, due to their serious risks to human health and the environment. Yet, EU-based corporations are still allowed to manufacture these banned substances for export to countries with weaker protections. This practice harms vulnerable communities, threatens nature, and undermines human rights all over the world. The exports were at 80.000 tons in 2018 and have at least doubled since. 

At the same time, the EU continues to import food and feed grown using these very same banned pesticides. In 2022, 69 EU‑banned pesticides were detected in EU‑sold food samples. This not only exposes European consumers to dangerous residue cocktails, but also creates unfair competition for European farmers who have stopped using these toxic chemicals.

  If a pesticide is too dangerous for use in Europe, it is too dangerous to export, and too dangerous to allow back in through imported food.

The European Commission must act now to stop the hypocrisy and finally put an end to this toxic double standard!