In July 2008, representatives of Pesticide Action Network International (PAN) submitted a request to the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal for action to determine whether multinational agrochemical companies were responsible for “mass deaths, serious health damage, environmental plunder and the destruction of ecological balance and biodiversity” (page one of the Request letter). After two years of case collection and documentation work, the public session took place in Bangalore from 3 to 6 December 2011.
The multinationals examined included the largest producers of agrochemicals and seeds, including hybrid and genetically modified ones: Bayer, BASF, Dow, DuPont, Monsanto and Syngenta. According to reported data, these six companies hold more than 70% of the global pesticide market. The accusation was of a pattern of recurrent abuse, including direct and indirect corruption, threats and harassment, disseminating misleading or false information, and aggressively and deceptively marketing and promoting hazardous pesticides and genetically modified (GMO) seeds.
In its Judgement, the PPT argued that the production, marketing and use of highly toxic pesticides has disproportionately affected small farmers, farm workers and the poorest and most vulnerable members of society, resulting in serious violations of the right to life and health. This also deprives individuals of their right to a safe and healthy environment, contributing to biodiversity loss, as well as to the degradation of ecosystems and the environment.
Requesting Organisations:
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) International is a global network of over 600 organisations in more than 90 countries which, for 30 years, has been committed to protecting health, the environment, and livelihoods by eliminating the use of highly hazardous pesticides, and by promoting resilient, regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty.
Documentation:
Judgment in English