A disturbing Reuters investigation has revealed that Greece is not only a major user of illegal pesticides but also a key smuggling hub for banned agrochemicals entering the European Union.
The report released this week reveals a sharp rise in the use of counterfeit and prohibited pesticides across EU countries, with Greece serving as a critical transit point, particularly from neighboring Bulgaria and Turkey. Farmers, grappling with high prices and climate pressures, are turning to these cheaper illicit substances despite their severe health and environmental risks.
According to the findings cited by Reuters, many of these chemicals—banned in the EU since 2009—have been linked to liver, kidney, and lung damage, and are suspected carcinogens.
In some regions of Greece, such as Thessaly – a major agricultural producer– illegal pesticides now make up as much as 25% of total pesticide use, compared to the rest of the EU where it comes to at least 14%, up from around 10% in 2015. Authorities seized 2,040 tonnes of illegal pesticides in 2022, quadruple the volume confiscated in 2019, indicating the accelerating scale of the black market.
Greek produce such as olives, grapes, and tomatoes have tested positive for traces of banned substances, raising concerns about food safety.
Reuters reports that the illicit pesticide trade is structured like an organized crime network, with smugglers, middlemen, and farmers each playing distinct roles. Farmers often pay in cash, spray crops under cover of darkness, and burn evidence to avoid detection.
When questioned, officials in Greece acknowledge the problem, citing understaffing and lack of resources, which make enforcement challenging. Meanwhile, both the Greek government and the EU have pledged to speed up the approval of safer alternatives to meet rising demand and curb illicit use.
The report comes weeks after a major farming scandal came to light involving the Greek state agency responsible for distributing EU farming subsidies.