The cost of spraying crops with pesticides is continuing to get more expensive across the European Union. Farmers in countries like Greece are finding cheaper alternatives in unlabeled bottles smuggled into the country. Reuters says a dozen farmers quoted anonymously say the products are more effective than what they regularly use. However, they’re also potentially more harmful. Laboratory tests show the bottles contain pesticides banned in the EU for several years due to suspected risks to humans and the environment. The pesticide smuggling in Greece is showing up in other areas across the European Union. EU authorities say the use of banned and counterfeit pesticides is higher than ever. This comes as the EU is looking to reduce the use of even permitted crop protection products as part of its green transition. At least 14 percent of pesticides used in EU fields are illegal, up from about 10 percent in 2015.
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