If Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHP), as they are known, are handled and used correctly, they are safe. In many countries, indeed, they are the only solution for saving lives, as demonstrated by the examples of the locust infestation in Africa and the Zika virus in hot countries.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) define Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHP) as follows: They must represent a particularly high acute or chronic hazard to health or environment. What this means is defined by eight criteria. There is no definitive international list of highly hazardous pesticides, but rather criteria that classify the pesticides or active substances as such. No specific pesticides are definitively classified as highly hazardous. Each country determines independently which pesticides are approved, based on the agronomic, economic and climatic requirements. NGOs also draw up lists of HHPs. However, they do not use the eight FAO and WHO criteria for this or, in addition, they use their own criteria that are not approved by international committees. They often focus only on the inherent toxicity of an active substance, i.e. whether it is potentially toxic. Since practically all active substances are potentially toxic, it is no surprise that the NGOs’ HHP lists are very extensive and do not take into account that pre-formulated pesticides usually only contain small quantities of an active substance.

Pesticides against Locust Infestation and Zika Virus

These highly effective pesticides often represent the only chance to save lives. In East Africa, millions of locusts are currently devouring enough cereal crops each day to feed 35,000 people. This is endangering food security. Highly effective insecticides are indispensable in protecting the crops against locusts. However, the WHO and FAO classification systems classify them as hazardous. Nonetheless, the FAO recommends using agents like these against locusts. This is because they are the only effective method of containing the plague and combating famine. This is also confirmed by aid workers. Another example is the Zika virus, which has now spread to over 80 countries around the world. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes severe deformities in newborns. The local population there also relies on the use of highly effective insecticides to combat the mosquito plague. As these examples show, the non-use of pesticides that are classified as "HHPs" can also be dangerous to people. What is crucial is that these resources are used correctly.