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Environmental News Service

SAN FRANCISCO, California, 18 December 2001  -- A top United Nations official (UN) had harsh words last week for the U.S. practice of exporting certain chemicals, pesticides and wastes to developing nations, while banning the same substances at home. "Just because something is not illegal, it may still be immoral," said UN Special Rapporteur Fatma Zora Ouhachi-Vesely. "Allowing the export of products recognized to be harmful is immoral."

Vesely was in the United States on a fact finding mission regarding U.S. toxic export practices, during which she met with government officials and non-governmental organizations. Vesely is the special rapporteur to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. The Special Rapporteur on Toxics addresses traffic in toxic and dangerous products and wastes and its impact on human rights. Vesely was in the United States to examine current issues and trends in the international transfer of materials and to learn about threats to human rights in the United States and abroad. Between 1996 and 2000, the U.S. exported almost 1.1 billion pounds of pesticides that have been identified as known or suspected carcinogens, an average rate of almost 16 tons per hour, according to the "International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health." Most of these exports are sent to the developing world and used in agriculture. According to the International Labor Organization, 65 to 90 percent of the children estimated to be working in Africa, Asia and Latin America are working in agriculture. These children are exposed to pesticides in the fields, from their water, through their clothing, and at their homes. Vesely explained why the export of pesticides banned in the United States creates human rights issues. "Even if something is marked 'poison' it tends to be shipped in large amounts, then transferred to smaller containers without proper labeling for local sale and use," she explained. "And the people actually using the products often cannot read anyway."

Vesely said that U.S. government officials told her that free trade agreements sometimes prevent the U.S. from refusing to export substances that are banned at home.

Nongovermental organizations told Vesely that the demand from developing countries stems from promotional campaigns by the U.S. companies that profit from these sales.

"Developing countries do not have the medical or regulatory capacity to address the negative effects of these chemicals on their population," added Vesely. "That is what makes this is an immoral practice."

Vesely also noted that in an interconnected world economy, pesticides banned in the U.S. may find their way back into the United States on food imports. More information on the Rapporteur on Toxics is available at: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/7/b/mtow.htm