Banned Pesticides by US Companies - Essay Example

Exporting banned/restricted pesticides by US companies If something that is not good to me or injurious to my health, I am not allowed to pass it on to others under any circumstance. Not only it is against the ethics and not permissible in any society but also treated as crime, if committed. Needless to say if something has been banned or prohibited by the Government, then it must have been lab-tested and found harmful leaving no room for flexibility. In the light of above facts, I do not hesitate to say that US companies, which are exporting the banned pesticides, are actually committing a severe crime as they are, in one way or other, playing with human lives and inflicting heavy loss to the environment.

Ferrer, I., Thurman, M. and Fernandez-Alba, A. (2005) identified, “Pesticide residues are a major environmental issue in vegetable samples, and the identification and quantitation of insecticides in vegetables is of great importance to individuals and health organizations around the world.” The entire game is all about money-making. Because of ban, companies have resorted to selling their products in cheaper prices and dumping them in developing countries in order to flush-out their existing big stocks.

In North, the Government had put a ban on the pesticide called “Methyl bromide” because of being health hazards and harmful effects to the ozone layer. In spite of being aware of its hazardous effects, it was being openly sold especially in third world countries. Eddleston, M. et al. (2002) examined, “In 1985, the UN Food and agriculture Organisation (FAO) produced a voluntary code of conduct for the pesticide industry in an attempt to limit the harmful effects of pesticides. Unfortunately, a lack of adequate government resources in the developing world makes this code ineffective, and thousands of deaths continue today.

” Redmond, D. (2002) stated, “The United States is one of the largest exporters of pesticides in the world. Many of the pesticides are so dangerous that they are banned for use in the United States. There is no doubt that the use of these pesticides in the third world countries where they are exported is devastating. "But we are victims too. Pesticide exports create a circle of poison" by returning to the United States in the food we import.” Machipisa, L. (1995) quoted in his article, "If we have stocks we should destroy them.

It is wrong to go and create a problem in the South when we in the North do not think it is good for us," said Herren. "One should look for alternatives before and not dump it, because it will lead its abuse.” In conclusion, I would appeal the Companies, involved in this abusive business, to please stop playing with human lives for the sake of few dollars. On the other hand I would also appeal the US Government to take a stern action against those found guilty in this malpractice. References Ferrer, I.

, Thurman, M. & Fernandez-Alba, A. (2005). Quantitation and Accurate Mass Analysis of Pesticides in Vegetables by LC/TOF-MS. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.ual.es/personal/intercom/comun/Quantitation.pdf Eddleston, M. et al. (2002). Pesticide poisoning in the developing world—a minimum pesticides list. Public Health, 360, 1163-67. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.sertox.com.ar/img/item_full/2002Lancet.pdf Redmond, D. (2002). Importing Death as a Part of Free Trade: An Argument for a Prohibition on the Importation of Foods Containing the Residue of Banned Pesticides.

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review, 27 (1), 231-263. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1183&context=wmelpr&sei-redir=1#search="Effects+of+using+banned+pesticides+pdf" Machipisa, L. (1995). Banned Pesticides Heavily Used in Third World. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.albionmonitor.com/9611a/bannedpesticides.html