Environmentalists claim that the UK exports its pesticide footprint abroad. Pesticide Action UK UK’s new report has shown that the increased trade with Brazil could finance the use of harmful pesticides banned in Britain.
Brazilian lawmakers are currently pushing for a bill to reduce laws protecting human and environmental health from pesticides. Even without the new legislation, Brazilian farmers are allowed almost twice the amount of hazardous pesticides that are allowed in the UK. This includes Paraquat, a lethal herbicide that has caused tens to thousands of deaths worldwide, and neonicotinoids that are toxic to bees.
Campaigners claim that a greater dependence on Brazil’s trade after Brexit could encourage the use of pesticides and worsen the environment in Brazil.
Vicki Hird is the Sustain sustainable farming campaign coordinator. She said that most UK consumers don’t know that some meats were raised on soya grown with highly toxic chemicals. While the UK government is making good progress in reducing pesticide exposures in the UK, it seems to be open to the possibility of exporting our environmental and health footprints to Brazil.
The report also warns against a stronger trade link resulting in a weakening UK pesticide regulations. Brazil, a major agricultural exporter, would benefit from a decrease in UK standards. These standards prohibit food exports containing pesticides in quantities that exceed the safety limits of the UK.
The UK government proposed a bill to sanction companies that deforest in their supply chains. This includes Amazonian farmers who clear the rainforest. However, the law on pesticides is not similar.
Josie Cohen is the head of policy and campaigns for Pesticide Action Network UK. She stated: The UK trade secret promotes trade with Brazil as it presents real opportunities to increase green trade. Brazil’s excessive use toxic pesticides is threatening the Amazon and other important ecosystems. This is contaminating water, poisoning farmers and communities, and contributing to the destruction. The government has not yet provided details about how it will ensure that Brazilian food on UK shelves does not contribute to the global climate or nature crises.
Another report was released Tuesday that found that multiple pesticides that are banned from use on British fields and farms were being exported by UK-based chemical companies in 2020.
The investigation UnearthedGreenpeaceces journalism arm, discovered that seven UK companies exported banned Agrochemicals overseas that year. These included Paraquat-based herbicides; Imidacloprid-based insecticides; and Propiconazole fungicide, which was banned after it proved to be harmful to babies in utero.
Doug Parr, Greenpeace UK’s chief scientist, stated that by allowing UK-based companies export harmful chemicals to be used on our farms, the UK government is acting like a drug baron, with the motto “Don’t get high on your own supplies.” These double standards are deeply cynical, and morally unjustifiable.
The UK government is not acting as an environmental leader. Instead, it is failing to keep pace with the European Commission who have rightly pledged to end the export of banned chemicals. Ministers must consider the devastating effects this toxic trade has on wildlife and people and should ban it immediately.
A spokesperson for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that the government is united in their commitment to upholding its international leading environmental protection, animal welfare, and food quality standards in trade agreements. The UK sets a higher standard for neonicotinoids, and other chemicals. It requires exporting companies to confirm that they have received any imports before they can be shipped.
We are committed to ensuring that decisions regarding the use of pesticides are based on sound scientific assessments. We will not approve pesticides that pose unacceptable risks to people or the natural environment. All agri-food products that are imported into the UK under any future or existing trade agreements and partnerships must comply with our requirements.
