EU-Banned Pesticides, Sold by European Firms in East Africa, Are Killing Bees & Harming Ecosystems
EU-Banned Pesticides, Sold by European Firms in East Africa, Are Killing Bees & Harming Ecosystems
The loss of bees due to pesticides has devastated honey production in Rwanda, severely impacting the livelihoods of many beekeeping families, media reported, citing scientists.
While longer rains are a factor, pesticides are the primary cause of bee deaths across East Africa, including Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Kenya. Bees are crucial pollinators for key crops in the region, where agriculture significantly contributes to GDP and employment.
Rwanda exports its natural pyrethrum pesticide extract but imports synthetic alternatives:
▪72% of farmers use Rocket, a pesticide containing the bee-toxic profenofos
▪22% rely on malathion, a pesticide banned in the EU due to its harmful effects
Yet, Denmark, France, and Germany still export malathion to Rwanda, according to the European Chemicals Agency.
In 2022, EU countries exported over 81,000 tonnes of 41 pesticides banned in their own fields.
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