CONTRABANDO DE AGROTÓXICOS NO BRASIL

Abstract

Each year, pesticides poison and kill millions of people, and their overuse can poison soil, contaminate water sources, and devastate ecosystems. All of this damage is exacerbated by illegal and unregulated trade. The overall objective of this research is to present the negative effects on Brazil's development from the smuggling of agrochemicals. This bibliographic and qualitative methodological work has highlighted that agricultural pesticides, known as agrotoxics in Brazil, also called agrochemicals, pesticides or phytosanitary products, are chemical or biological and are substances used to protect and fight with crop pests, besides guaranteeing food production.  These products play a key role in increasing productivity in crops. The illegal market of pesticides can be defined by a set of crimes, in which gangs specialize in various types of illicit activities. Among the most common practices are theft, counterfeiting and smuggling, configuring the crime of using illicit products in plantations. It is concluded that pesticides cause substantial and growing negative impacts on the health of humans, animals, and the environment, and government actions that encourage the legalized purchase of these products are necessary.