The Global Politics of Pesticides explores the varied, and often conflicting, interests involved in the formulation of international policies on chemical pesticide manufacture and use in each of the main areas of environmental pollution, trade, development, public health, food security, biotechnology and industrial safety and explains why some aspects of pesticide use are subject to strict international guidelines whilst others are not. The book breaks new ground in objectively examining the competing viewpoints of food producers and other pesticide users, the chemical industry, health officials, traders, environmental/consumer pressure groups and the public. It also considers how international regulation can occur in spite of the fundamental differences of opinion and seemingly opposing interests held by the key actors.

Peter Hough is Lecturer in Politics and International Studies in the School of History and Politics, Middlesex University. Originally published in 1998

1. Introduction A Brief History of Pest Control What's Your Poison? 2. Reaping the Rewards: The Use of Pesticides for Increasing Crop Yields 3. Fighting Plague and Pestilence: The Role of Pesticides in Controlling Pest Transmitted Diseases 4. The Killing Fields: The Issue of Human Poisoning by Pesticides 5. When a Weapon Misses the Target: The Issue of Environmental Pollution by Pesticides 6. The Secret Ingredient: The Issue of Food Contamination by Pesticides 7. Peddling Poisons: The International Trade in Pesticides 8. Steering a Middle Course: Avoiding the Overuse of Pesticides 9. From Value Systems to Regulatory Systems: Reflections on the Seven Issues of Pesticide Politics