In the vineyards of South Africa’s Western Cape—where some of the world’s finest wines are grown—farm workers are demanding justice. Not just economic justice, but justice for their health, their communities, and their basic human rights. For decades, they have lived under the shadow of pesticides banned in the European Union for being too dangerous, yet still produced in Europe and exported to countries like South Africa—causing serious health complications and perpetuating cycles of poverty among farm workers.
This ongoing practice has triggered outrage among local communities, civil society organizations, and international observers, culminating in a recent People’s Tribunal on Agrotoxins held in Stellenbosch from March 21–23. The tribunal, though not a formal court, served as a powerful platform for farm workers, legal professionals, and health experts to present evidence of what they describe as systematic human rights violations facilitated by international trade in banned pesticides.
These violations, they say, are driven in large part by the European Union’s double standards.
Despite banning dozens of highly hazardous pesticides for use within its borders—due to their toxic effects on human health and the environment—the EU continues to allow their production and export to countries like South Africa. Once abroad, these chemicals are used to grow the very produce that ends up back on European supermarket shelves.
Over the course of the two-day tribunal, farm workers bravely shared testimonies of suffering: respiratory illnesses, reproductive health problems, neurological disorders, and cancers. Many pointed out that they are regularly exposed to chemical cocktails banned in Europe—without protective gear, medical support, or even the right to know what substances they are handling.
One question echoed throughout the tribunal: If these chemicals are too dangerous, why are they being produced by the very countries that ban them and allowed for export to third world countries
According to the African Centre for Biodiversity, 192 highly hazardous pesticides are still legally used in South Africa—57 of which are banned in the EU. These include chemicals classified as neurotoxic, carcinogenic, and acutely toxic to the environment. The brunt of this toxic burden is borne by farm workers, many of whom are women—biologically more susceptible to the impacts of pesticide exposure and more vulnerable due to socio-economic inequalities.
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Many layers of injustice unfold on these farms—where the legacies of apartheid remain deeply etched into the landscape. Inequality is not just visible; it is lived daily. Farm workers, many of whom are women, continue to report a lack of basic protective gear when handling toxic chemicals, often relying on scarves and makeshift coverings to shield themselves. Sanitation facilities are scarce, with no access to clean running water or toilets in many vineyards. Medical support is virtually non-existent, and when health complications arise—from respiratory issues to cancer—there is little to no assistance. Their wellbeing is jeopardized every day, and when things go wrong, they are left to suffer in silence.
Trade blocs like the European Union often position themselves as global champions of sustainability, enforcing strict environmental and health standards within their own borders. Yet this commitment rings hollow when these same blocs continue to export pesticides they have deemed too dangerous for their own people. It’s a contradiction that undermines the very principles of sustainable development and human rights. If these substances are not safe, they should not be produced—let alone distributed for profit to countries in the Global South. Just as the EU is moving to restrict imports of food grown with banned chemicals, there is a moral and ethical imperative to place equal—if not greater—restrictions on their production and export. True sustainability demands consistency. Anything less is hypocrisy dressed in green.
Sustainability must not stop at the farm gate or the customs border. It must inform how we produce, trade, and consume—globally. That includes ending the export of banned substances that continue to harm workers and ecosystems elsewhere.
For South African farm workers, the demand is simple: stop exporting harm. Respect lives. Uphold rights. Practice the sustainability and ethics you preach.
As the People’s Tribunal prepares to release its verdict in the coming months, one thing is already clear: the continued export of banned pesticides from Europe to South Africa is a breach not just of trade ethics, but of humanity itself. It is time for trade blocs like the EU to lead with integrity, align action with values, and put people—all people—before profit.
