Tens of thousands of tons pesticideswhose use is prohibited in the European Union are exported to third countries from European countries, including Greece, as it turned out Greenpeace. These are neonicotinoids, the use of which, according to scientists, also causes active reduction in the number of bees and required insect pollinators.

Greenpeace UK and Swiss NGO press team investigation public view based, according to the organization, on official data: export notifications received European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the national regulators of France, Germany, Belgium, Austria and Hungary in accordance with freedom of information rules. The investigation showed that the companies planned to export 13,274 tons of neonicotinoids-based pesticides from 13 EU countries. in 2021.

The largest exporters were Belgium, France, Spain and Germany. However, the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, Greece and Denmark also exported. In particular, Greece announced the export of a total of 223 tons of pesticides, which contain about 43 tons of banned neonicotinoid substances. The exact quantity actually exported may be more or less, as the final export data may differ from the quantity declared as being exported, but these differences are not significant.

In Brazil

“Nearly half of this toxic cargo was destined for Brazil, with a planned export of 6,272 tons. Brazil is home to 20% of the world’s biodiversity, but its regulation is much weaker than in the EU. about which pesticides can be used. There are many reports of large numbers of bees dying in Brazil, in part as a result of exposure to neonicotinoids,” Greenpeace said.

The pesticides responsible for the sharp decline in the number of bees are “sent” to third countries.

Specific pesticides are the three main neonicotinoids imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam, which were banned by the EU in 2018. in all crops and uses other than indoor greenhouses. The European Commission said in a statement that the impact of harmful pesticides on bees in greenhouses is low, so they can be used.

Neonicotinoids are the most widely used type of insecticide on Earth and are used to treat many fruits, vegetables and grains, the world’s most popular food. Many scientific data have shown that they can cause great harm to bees. However, neonicotinoids are also taken up by soil and woody plants, and then enter rivers and groundwater and persist in the environment for many years.

public consultations

Until July 31, the European Commission has submitted for public discussion the possibility of creating legislation prohibiting the export of banned substances to the EU. pesticides in other countries.