Germany is working on a ban on the export of chemical pesticides that are no longer permitted in the EU. This concerns about 160 active ingredients that have been classified as harmful to humans. A German export ban would primarily affect Bayer’s chemical products.
Chemical companies in Germany continue to produce crop protection products whose use is no longer allowed within the EU. These products are therefore intended exclusively for export. Agriculture Minister Cem Ă–zdemir now wants to put an end to this export branch.
Ă–zdemir cites user protection, especially for farmers in developing countries who still widely use these active ingredients. He also expects fairer competition conditions for German agriculture.
Earlier, various other legal routes were explored. The German export ban was already announced in the coalition agreement of the German center-left 'traffic light coalition'.
The Ministry of Agriculture is now working on a regulation based on the Plant Protection Act. A draft bill is expected by the end of the year.
Similar requirements already exist in France and Switzerland. The German minister also wants to collaborate with France on an EU-wide export ban. Next year, France will hold the rotating EU presidency for six months.
In 2021, a total of 53,020 tons of active ingredients for crop protection products were exported from Germany. Of this, 8,525 tons were non-approved active ingredients.