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Grã-Bretanha ainda luta para coibir o uso de pesticidas ilegais (em inglês)
2006-05-19
Illegal pesticides are finding a potentially lucrative market in Britain as some farmers surrender to the temptation to cut costs at any price, government and farm officials say. "There are a few persistent people doing it. The ones who do it tend to do it on a big scale," said a spokeswoman for the Pesticide Safety Directorate, part of Britain`s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Authorities have seized hundreds of thousands of tonnes of suspect materials in recent months and estimate the value of illegal pesticides entering the UK market in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. Products range from those banned for health reasons to those considered safe but not approved for other reasons, and a significant portion come from other European Union countries.
The manufacturers legally import substances from countries like China and India and then water them down or otherwise adulterate them. Farmers take big risks if they fall for the scam products, which may not work properly, can damage equipment and, in the worst cases, contaminate food crops. Besides facing fines, jail terms and the wrath of legitimate manufacturers, those who are caught by authorities can be prevented from selling their crops on the open market. "The risks are disproportionately high to undertake that kind of activity," said Neil Kift, an advisor for the National Farmers Union.
But Kift conceded that cost pressures might be tempting a small number to resort to the practice, which could expose consumers to foods containing known carcinogens and other potentially deadly contaminants. The dangers were highlighted by a 2002 British study of pesticide levels in strawberries, peaches and other common fruits and vegetables, which found traces of eight unapproved and potentially dangerous pesticides.
Billions of pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables contaminated with illegal pesticides are believed to find their way onto US supermarket shelves each year. In 1995 more than 500 Chinese students became seriously ill after eating vegetables contaminated with illegal pesticides.
by Paul Simao
(Planet Ark, 17/05/2006)
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/36397/story.htm
Authorities have seized hundreds of thousands of tonnes of suspect materials in recent months and estimate the value of illegal pesticides entering the UK market in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. Products range from those banned for health reasons to those considered safe but not approved for other reasons, and a significant portion come from other European Union countries.
The manufacturers legally import substances from countries like China and India and then water them down or otherwise adulterate them. Farmers take big risks if they fall for the scam products, which may not work properly, can damage equipment and, in the worst cases, contaminate food crops. Besides facing fines, jail terms and the wrath of legitimate manufacturers, those who are caught by authorities can be prevented from selling their crops on the open market. "The risks are disproportionately high to undertake that kind of activity," said Neil Kift, an advisor for the National Farmers Union.
But Kift conceded that cost pressures might be tempting a small number to resort to the practice, which could expose consumers to foods containing known carcinogens and other potentially deadly contaminants. The dangers were highlighted by a 2002 British study of pesticide levels in strawberries, peaches and other common fruits and vegetables, which found traces of eight unapproved and potentially dangerous pesticides.
Billions of pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables contaminated with illegal pesticides are believed to find their way onto US supermarket shelves each year. In 1995 more than 500 Chinese students became seriously ill after eating vegetables contaminated with illegal pesticides.
by Paul Simao
(Planet Ark, 17/05/2006)
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/36397/story.htm
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