The Illegal Trade in Chemicals

This report examines the scale, drivers and impacts of the illegal trade in chemicals, with a focus on pesticides, mercury and other hazardous substances traded across borders. It analyses international legal instruments and national legislation, and draws on trade databases, statistical analysis, industry reports, stakeholder interviews, fieldwork and media reviews to assess market dynamics and enforcement gaps. The report highlights significant discrepancies between reported trade flows and estimated use, weaknesses in monitoring and baseline data, and the involvement of informal and illicit supply chains. It documents human and environmental risks, including gender-related exposure patterns, and reviews regional enforcement efforts and regulatory frameworks aimed at preventing and combating illegal traffic.