Target: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Goal: Stop sending toxic products from Europe as humanitarian aid to Africa.
EU member states have been accused of deceitful practices by a group of African parliamentarians. The Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Thomas Tayebwa was speaking at the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) summit in Brussels. He stated that the European Union has been sending food products laced with heavy amounts of pesticides to African countries as humanitarian aid. He cited that developing countries do not have the independent food testing mechanism to measure the quality of the aid products, and this vulnerability is being misused by first-world countries. Tayebwa stated that some of these food products, such as milk, are sent for refugees directly through the UN system for beneficiaries. In a moving speech, Tayebwa said that human rights are for all, and the poisoned milk that can cause cancer in Europe will have the same effect in Africa.
The Ugandan Deputy Speaker pointed out that these pesticide-laden products are not allowed in the European Union. However, manufacturers are permitted to produce these items exclusively for export to poorer countries. EU rules dictate that any company that intends to export products made with banned chemicals must furnish an export notification. The notice should detail the reasons why the product is banned, where it should be used, and the amount designated for shipping. Going forward, the national and EU regulators check the export notification and issue the details to the destination countries.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, Gladys Boss Shollei, stated that there are inherent flaws in the trade agreements dictating the use of banned chemicals. She said that the EU has laws in place against the use of these chemicals within the Union, and at the same time, they have laws allowing the export of these chemicals to developing countries. OACPS Assistant Secretary General, Escipion Joaquin Oliveira Gomez, stated that the conference aims to ensure that the EU drafts new laws and regulations that conform to the best standards of quality management in all parts of the world.
Human rights are for all, and discriminatory practices only reflect a deplorable colonial attitude. Sign the petition to let the European Union know that you are against such practices and that you support third-world countries.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear President Von der Leyen,
Parliamentarians attending the OACPS summit in Brussels have accused the EU of double standards in its export policies towards African countries. The attendees have spoken out against sending food products laced with banned chemicals as humanitarian aid to African nations. The products that are banned for European consumption should be banned in Africa as well.
The Rotterdam Convention on international trade in hazardous chemicals and pesticides, designated by the UN, requires exporters to share detailed information on the dangers of banned chemicals with importing countries.
President Leyen, we demand that the EU redrafts its laws and regulations to promote fair trade across the world.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: ECHO
I am surprised the EU would send his poison milk to Africa. Like those in Africa, I would feel any food substance sent from the EU would be correctly shipped. Of course I never realized companies are allowed to set up shop in the EU and then send their flawed merchandise to other countries.
This is a very poor choice but now it is fact from people who suffered through this experience. The buck stops here. The EU must change their methods of doing business with faulty companies. Don’ allow such companies to operate under your noses. Kick them out showing those wronged you do actually care about their people and the goods you send.
I hate to say this, but the EU has stricter standards than the US when it comes to pesticides and weed killers. For instance, Bayer Corp. in Germany now owns the former Monsanto Corp (makers of Roundup). We still use it in the US, but it is actually banned in Germany. It is part of the GMO corn and soy which is grown here. We eat more Roundup than any other country! Only eat Organic, when possible. DON’T BUY AND USE ROUNDUP!!!