Call for EU to ban sale of pesticides already outlawed in the bloc
Coalition of citizen groups argues that measure would cost few jobs and save lives, protect the environment in low- and middle-income countries
The EU should ban the production and export of pesticides that it has prohibited in the bloc, a coalition of citizen groups has urged. Contrary to what the agrochemical sector argues, they say that an export ban would not endanger employment or have significant economic effects.
The EU has not acted on its 2020 commitment to ban the export of such pesticides, which include Syngenta’s paraquat, Bayer’s acetochlor and various neonicotinoids. However, some member states have acted independently. A Belgian law will come into force in 2025 but it covers a limited number of substances. France has banned the export of products, rather than active substances, meaning that some banned substances may still be exported. German discussions on an export ban have stalled.