Toxic pesticides face EU ban over health and environmental fears

PESTICIDES with highly toxic chemicals that can cause cancer and other ailments are to be banned in the EU over the next few years in response to fears they damage human health and the environment.

The farming community says it will severely reduce crop yields, but health and environmental experts believe the new rules do not go far enough.

In all, 22 chemicals out of over 400 are being banned because they can cause cancer, affect the hormone, nervous and reproductive systems and foetuses, as well as damage the environment.