The National Environment Act and the Agrochemicals Control Act plus several other tools are supposed to be protecting the farmers against hazardous chemicals.
With the pain of climate change, farmers in Uganda and many other developing nations strive to increase agricultural yields and protect their crops from pests.
However, the widespread use of toxic pesticides, many of which are banned in the European Union (EU) due to their harmful effects on human health and the environment, poses a grave danger to these communities.
While these chemicals are prohibited in Europe, European manufacturers continue to export them to countries such as Uganda, Kenya and South Africa where regulatory frameworks are weak, and farmers often lack sufficient information about their dangers.
ALSO READ: Banned pesticides cleared in Uganda
The export of banned toxic pesticides from European nations to developing countries has become a pressing global concern.
While these chemicals are prohibited within the European Union (EU) due to their adverse effects on health and the environment, they continue to be produced and shipped to nations with less stringent regulations.
This practice not only endangers the health of populations in these countries but also raises ethical questions about environmental justice and global trade practices.
African countries are significant recipients of these hazardous pesticides. South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya are said to import about 50 percent of agrochemicals and are said to be the leading consumers in Africa. Uganda imports about 600 metric tonnes of agrochemicals.
The dark reality
Pesticides play a crucial role in modern agriculture, helping farmers combat pests and increase food production.
However, many pesticides sold in developing countries contain hazardous substances linked to severe health problems, including cancer, neurological disorders, and reproductive issues.
According to Bernard Bwambale, the programme head at Global Consumer Centre (CONSENT), many farmers in Uganda are frustrated because they incur losses as a result of climate change, pests and diseases that attack the crops and animals.
They have resorted to the use of chemicals which are readily available in the community agro shops.
He remarks that there are global and regional frameworks on chemicals that protect consumers (farmers) from using hazardous chemicals such as the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. The Bamako Convention is considered a crucial tool in combating the dumping of toxic waste on the continent.
The regional African agreement is specifically designed to prevent the import of hazardous waste into Africa.
The National Environment Act, the Agrochemicals Control Act plus several other tools are supposed to be protecting the farmers against hazardous chemicals.
However, there are a lot of gaps in regulations on the use of pesticides, according to Bwambale.
As of 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture in Uganda had legally registered 115 active ingredients in the pesticides.
However, these active ingredients have been packaged differently in 669 brands of the pesticides.
When the Food Safety Coalition studied the chemicals to find out if they are safe for human use using the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) criteria, 55 out of the 115 active ingredients were categorised as highly hazardous while out of the 669 pesticide brands that are legally registered in Uganda, 459 of them are highly hazardous.
That is to say, 68.6 percent of the fully registered pesticide brands in Uganda are hazardous. When the Global Major Pesticides Management (GMPM) which is a FAO criteria, was used, 15 of the 115 active ingredients are highly hazardous and 129 registered brands out of the 669 are highly hazardous.
“A common example is the whitish residue often found on tomatoes in markets, which can be indicative of pesticide application. Identifying and regulating such substances is therefore crucial for public health and environmental protection,” says Bwambale.
The hypocrisy of European exports
In 2018, EU member countries approved the export of over 81,000 tonnes of pesticides containing substances banned within their own borders. In 2022, the numbers increased to 120,000 tonnes and nearly 10,000 tonnes were intended for African countries.
ALSO READ: Types of pesticides used in farming
The United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, and Spain accounted for more than 90 percent of these exports. These pesticides are prohibited in the EU due to unacceptable risks to human health and the environment.
Pesticides play a crucial role in modern agriculture, helping farmers combat pests and increase food production. PHOTO/FILE/COURTESY
According to Suzy Serneels, an advocate of agroecology at Broederlijk Delen, Carbendazim and maconzeb are not approved for use in the EU because they are toxic and classified as an endocrine disruptor, known to cause diabetes as well as hepatic and reproductive toxicity in experimental animals, but are exported to Uganda, other countries and are being used.
She says, “Despite the EU’s strict regulations on pesticide use within its borders, European companies continue to produce and export dangerous chemicals to developing countries. This practice exposes a glaring double standard: While European consumers enjoy protection from these toxic chemicals, farmers in Uganda and other developing countries bear the burden of their harmful effects.”
The EU’s ban on these pesticides is based on solid scientific evidence of their dangers yet economic interests seem to override ethical considerations when it comes to exports. Only 34.5 percent of the agrochemicals used in Uganda are approved for use in the European Union and the whole 65.5 percent are not. If they are not safe for use in the EU, they are not safe for use elsewhere.
About 18 chemicals registered in Uganda that meet both PAN and JMPM criteria as highly hazardous include: cabendazim, abamectin, bromoxynil octanoate, bromoxynil, brodifacoum, beta cyfluthrine, carbofuran, carbosulfan, chlorfenvinphos, chlorpyrifos, cyproconazole, epoxiconazole, zinc phosphide,zeta cypermethrin, triazophos, propicanazole, mancozeb and glufosinate ammonium.
Their impact
Studies indicate that exposure to toxic pesticides can lead to chronic illnesses and even death, especially among small-scale farmers and agricultural workers who handle these chemicals with limited protective equipment.
According to Hanington Owegi, the regional Coordinator, PELUM Association, these chemicals contaminate soil and water sources, affecting both human and environmental health.
He says, “Small-scale farmers, who form the backbone of Uganda’s agricultural sector, often mix and apply these pesticides with their bare hands, unaware of the long-term health risks. Toxic pesticides have devastating consequences for both human health and the environment.”
Symptoms of pesticide poisoning range from mild irritation and dizziness to severe respiratory distress and organ failure. Beyond human health, the environmental impact is alarming. Toxic pesticides contribute to soil degradation, killing beneficial microorganisms and reducing fertility.
Polluted water sources harm aquatic life and disrupt ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss. Additionally, some pesticides are known to endanger pollinators such as bees, which play a vital role in crop production and food security.
What can be done?
The export of banned toxic pesticides from Europe to developing countries poses significant health and environmental risks. Addressing this issue requires strengthening international policy frameworks, enhancing local regulatory capacities, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices to ensure a safer future for all.
Serneels advises that, “developing countries implement the already existing legislation in order to reduce the importation of toxic agrochemicals. Each chemical comes with information, carefully analysing the chemicals before they are used. This requires the vigilance of the ministry of agriculture before they register a certain chemical but also the individuals that use the chemicals."
