About 30 percent of pesticides sold in developing countries do not meet international health and environmental standards, according to two U.N. agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization. The FAO’s Gero Vaagt said the pesticides “frequently contain hazardous substances and impurities that have already been banned or severely restricted” in developed countries. The problem is particularly bad in sub-Saharan Africa, the agencies said. They urged governments to adopt domestic standards that follow the international guidelines.
