Global coffee supply chain faces scrutiny over agrochemical use and export policie

A comprehensive investigation has recently been published detailing the presence of agricultural chemicals in global coffee supply chains. The report, titled Poison in Your Coffee, was co-authored by the NGOs Coffee Watch, Inkota Netzwerk, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, and Pesticide Action Network (PAN) UK. The findings synthesize scientific literature, government data, and field research conducted across major producing countries, including Brazil, Vietnam, Kenya, and Colombia.

According to the document, an analysis of the 159 active ingredients approved for coffee cultivation in these producing nations reveals that approximately 60% are currently banned for use within the European Union. Despite these domestic restrictions, coffee grown with these substances can legally enter the European market provided it does not exceed established maximum residue limits (MRLs). The report highlights specific substances of concern, such as chlorpyrifos—restricted in the EU since 2020 due to developmental concerns—and the neonicotinoid imidacloprid, which is restricted domestically to protect pollinator populations.

Because coffee is a highly pesticide-intensive crop—accounting for an estimated 25% of national agrochemical use in Kenya despite occupying under 1% of its agricultural land—residues are a frequent subject of regulatory monitoring. Data compiled by PAN Europe from official member-state samples submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) indicates that:
- 22.7% of analyzed coffee samples contained residues of pesticides that are banned for agricultural use within the EU.
- The detection rate of these residues in testing samples saw a ten-fold increase between 2011 and 2022.
- Between 2020 and 2024, the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) flagged pesticides as the primary risk category associated with imported coffee.

The report notes that a portion of these chemicals are classified as hazardous under World Health Organization guidelines, with roughly 14% categorized as probable or known carcinogens, and nearly two-thirds classified as potential reproductive toxins under EU labeling standards.

The investigation draws attention to a policy debate regarding "double standards" in chemical manufacturing. Currently, chemical companies based inside the EU are legally permitted to manufacture and export substances to non-EU countries, even if those substances are banned for domestic agricultural use. While the European Commission committed in its 2020 Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability to address this export practice, binding legislative proposals have yet to be finalized.

The authors of the report emphasize that the most direct exposure risks affect agricultural laborers in producing nations rather than end consumers. Surveys cited in the report indicate that 87% of surveyed growers in the Dominican Republic and two-thirds of workers in India apply these treatments without basic protective equipment like masks or gloves.

To address these findings, the publishing organizations advocate for stricter import controls, lowering residue limits to the minimum level of laboratory detection, and halting the export of banned chemicals from EU facilities.

Source:

Coffee Watch