FAO warned that many pesticides that have been banned or whose use has been severely restricted in Europe and North America are still marketed and used in developing countries. Also, many old, often highly toxic, organophosphorus pesticide formulations continue to be used there because of their low price. Often, small farmers simply cannot handle such compounds, FAO warned. Protective clothing is often too expensive and, in many cases, cannot be used due to the climate in these countries. The Convention will be a powerful tool to limit access to such compounds.
Companies based in Western Europe are currently the world's largest chemical producers.
The fastest growing markets are in developing countries, particularly in Latin America and Asia. Africa is increasingly using pesticides on export crops.