Brazil Uses Agrochemicals Banned in EU, Highlighting Chemical Colonialism

Geographer Larissa Mies Bombardi of the French Institute of Research for Development (IRD) reported that seven of the ten most‑sold agrochemicals in Brazil are prohibited in the European Union because they are carcinogenic, teratogenic or cause severe environmental damage. Despite the bans, European companies continue to export these chemicals to Brazil, with about 3,000 tonnes arriving in 2023, a market dominated by four multinational firms.

The findings were presented at the 78th Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC) in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. Bombardi described the situation as “chemical colonialism,” noting the health risks to humans, animals and ecosystems, and linking the widespread use of these pesticides to broader declines in insect populations worldwide. The prohibited substances include glyphosate, mancozeb, 2,4‑D, acephate, chlorothalonil, atrazine, S‑metolachlor and others.