ABSTRACT
Chapter 4 considered the problem of human poisoning by pesticides resulting from a direct exposure to the chemicals. Human poisoning by pesticides can also occur indirectly, through the consumption of contaminated foodstuffs or drinking water. This form of poisoning adds an extra dimension to the more direct human poisoning considered earlier, because of the strong international dimension to the issue. Whereas exposure to pesticides through occupation or accident is basically a localized problem, capable of being countered by national legislation or education, the contamination of food must inevitably become a matter of worldwide concern because of the extensive international trade in this commodity. Any norm that food should not be traded if it is dangerously contaminated with pesticides needs to be adhered to equally by all participants in the world economy, if it is to have behavioural effect. Merely regulating imports nationally is insufficient as a means of upholding the norm, because if the regulations of a state are not in line with the export regulations of their trading partners, the supply of an essential commodity will disappear.
