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−− 209 pesticides used in the EU could endanger humans or environment

Aug. 22, 2016

Greenpeace issues EU pesticide blacklist

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Greenpeace Germany has recently published a new version of its catalogue named “The EU Pesticide Blacklist”, which compiles all the approved pesticides in the European Union, according to potential risks which they could pose to human health and to the environment.

The report analyzes a total of 520 active substances allowed by the European Union and evaluates their potential risks. Of these, 209 pesticides are considered to be dangerous by Greenpeace in its Blacklist, because of the toxic effect they have.

- 111 pesticides qualify for direct inclusion as they satisfy one or more criteria deemed dangerous for human health – such as glyphosate, which was classified by World Health Organisation cancer experts as a probable carcinogen.

- 62 pesticides are included for meeting criteria dangerous to the environment – such as neonicotinoid imidacloprid, which is known to be toxic to bees and beneficial insects.

- An additional 36 pesticides are listed because of their high overall score, combining different categories – such as the fungicide captan, which has carcinogenic and immunotoxic properties, and is known to be toxic to fish and beneficial organisms.

“The most dangerous pesticides for humans and the environment should disappear from the fields and from food. The blacklist must first of all serve as a guide meant to reduce and finally replace chemical and synthetic pesticides with ecologic and non-toxic alternatives,” says Christiane Huxdorff, coordinator of the campaign for ecological agriculture with Greenpeace Germany.

Please find the full report here.