Challenging Deadly Pesticide Exports: Yavatmal Farmers vs. Syngenta in Swiss Courts

Highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) banned in Europe and Switzerland continue to be exported to the Global South, often with fatal consequences. A recent investigation by Public Eye and Unearthed reveal a sharp rise in exports of banned pesticides over the past six years. In 2017, 23 people in Yavatmal, India, died and hundreds were hospitalized with acute poisoning after spraying pesticides. Evidence indicates that at least some of the poisonings were linked to the insecticide Polo, produced by Syngenta, a global agrochemical giant with headquarters in Switzerland.

In 2021, family members of two victims and one survivor filed a civil lawsuit in Switzerland against Syngenta, seeking justice and compensation. They have been supported in their efforts by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India, Public Eye, and ECCHR. This landmark case is the first in Europe brought by plaintiffs from the Global South against an agrochemical company for pesticide poisonings, highlighting international concerns over corporate accountability and the double standards in the pesticide trade.

Join us on 27 January 2026 at 2:00 pm CET/6:30 pm IST to learn about the case, its legal implications, and ongoing efforts for an EU export ban on HHPs. The webinar will be held in English.

Speakers:

Laurent Gaberell, Food and Agriculture Expert, Public Eye, Dileep Kumar, CEO, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India, Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, Chief Adviser, Maharashtra Association of Pesticide Poisoned Persons (MAPPP); Theresa Mockel, Legal Advisor, Business and Human Rights, ECCHR, Representative of the End Toxic Pesticide Trade Coalition (tbc)

Moderation:

Clara Gonzales, Co-Director, Business and Human Rights, ECCHR

Please register using this link.

If you do have any questions regarding the webinar, or have a problem registering, please contact: event@ecchr.eu