EU export of pesticides banned in bloc continues to increase despite commitment to end practice
Investigation of export notifications reveals prohibited agrichemical exports has risen by 50%
Nearly 122,000 tonnes of pesticides banned in the EU were exported by the bloc in 2024, up 50% from 2018, a new investigation has revealed. The European Commission, which committed to end this in 2020, is coming under increasing pressure to stop the practice.
The investigation by Public Eye, a Swiss global justice group, and Unearthed, Greenpeace UK’s journalism project, analysed export notifications obtained under freedom of information laws from regulatory authorities. Companies must list any exports of banned products under ‘prior informed consent’ rules.