The Geopolitics of Poison: Regulatory Asymmetries of Pesticides Between the Global South and the European Union | Zenodo Skip to main Communities My dashboard Log in Sign up Published April 22, 2026 | Version v1 Journal article Open The Geopolitics of Poison: Regulatory Asymmetries of Pesticides Between the Global South and the European Union Authors/Creators Paulo Roberto Ramos 1 Show affiliations 1.
Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Brazil. Description This article provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of the profound regulatory asymmetries in pesticide governance between the European Union (EU) and the Global South, with a specific focus on Brazil and India. It deconstructs the paradoxical phenomenon where pesticides deemed too hazardous for European soil, due to their unacceptable risks to human health and biodiversity, are systematically produced within the EU and exported to developing nations. This practice, conceptualized here as "toxic colonialism" and "chemical dumping," is analyzed through the theoretical lenses of Biopolitics, Environmental Justice, and the Capitalocene. By synthesizing regulatory data from the last decade (2016-2026), this study reveals stark discrepancies in Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and drinking water standards, where permissible levels in the Global South can be thousands of times higher than those in the EU. The analysis further explores the socio-epidemiological impacts on vulnerable populations, arguing that these asymmetries represent a form of structural violence and a systemic violation of human rights. The article concludes by advocating for a decolonial approach to chemical regulation, the closure of the "export loophole," and the global harmonization of ethical standards based on the precautionary principle. This work contributes to the burgeoning field of political ecology by highlighting the racialized and geopolitical dimensions of environmental health inequities in the 21st century. Files 59.pdf Files (254.3 kB) Name Size Download all 59.pdf md5:661e68b8ec595aa2253de942d5f2b77e 254.3 kB Preview Download 28 Views 14 Downloads Show more details All versions This version Views Total views 28 28 Downloads Total downloads 14 14 Data volume Total data volume 4.1 MB 4.1 MB More info on how stats are collected.... Versions External resources Indexed in OpenAIRE Communities Keywords and subjects Keywords Pesticide Regulation, Chemical Dumping, Environmental Justice, Biopolitics, Capitalocene, Global South, Toxic Colonialism. Details DOI DOI Badge DOI 10.5281/zenodo.19690262 Markdown [](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19690262) reStructuredText .. image:: https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19690262.svg :target: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19690262 HTML <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19690262"><img src="https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19690262.svg" alt="DOI"></a> Image URL https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19690262.svg Target URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19690262 Resource type Journal article Publisher International Journal of Social Science and Human Research Published in International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 09(04), 3061-3067, ISSN: 2644-0695, 2026. Languages Old English (ca. 450-1100) Rights License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International The Creative Commons Attribution license allows re-distribution and re-use of a licensed work on the condition that the creator is appropriately credited. Read more Citation Export Technical metadata Created April 22, 2026 Modified April 22, 2026 Jump up About About Policies Infrastructure Principles Projects Roadmap Contact Blog Blog Support Help FAQ Developers REST API OAI-PMH Contribute GitHub Donate Funded by Powered by CERN Data Centre & InvenioRDM Status Privacy policy Cookie policy Terms of Use This site uses cookies. Find out more on how we use cookies Accept all cookies Accept only essential cookies