The real bloodsuckers

Over at the Globalisation Institute, there is some confusion over how EU trade policy is preventing Uganda from taking steps to tackle malaria with DDT.

One of the misconceptions that has been growing is that the EU is forcing developing countries to go without DDT for fighting malaria. It is being claimed that the EU threatened Uganda with sanctions for using DDT against malaria.

Sounds outrageous. But it is just an urban myth. The EU did no such thing.

Unfortunately, that is not the case.  Back in the Spring, EU representatives suggested to Ugandan ministers that if Uganda chooses to use DDT for malaria control, exporters will have to procure expensive equipment to ensure that their products do not contain any amount of residual DDT; otherwise they will face sanctions against their agricultural products.

This negotiating technique is also known as blackmail, because it would render Ugandan agricultural exports uncompetitive.

And seeing as Uganda only plans to use the chemical for Indoor Residual Spraying, it is also completely absurd.

You can read the full story about EU's shameful treatment of Uganda here.