Non-compliance with the World Trade Organization agreements by exporters of the European bumblebee, Bombus terrestris

SMITH-RAMÍREZ, C.; RENDÓN-FUNES, A.; LEIVA, M.; ARBETMAN, M.; AIZEN, M.A.; AGÜERO, L.

Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy

Taylor and Francis Ltd.

Año: 2023 vol. 19

International companies commercially rear bumblebees worldwide, the trade of which isregulated through agreements established by the World Trade Organization (WTO). Scientificstudies have shown multiple negative effects of introduced commercial bumblebees on nativebees in Japan, Australia, Sweden, Israel, Chile, and Argentina, calling into question thecompliance of exporting with some of the established WTO international sanitary regulations.We analyzed international WTO sanitary regulations focusing on the international trade ofbumblebees from the European Union (EU) and Israel, especially regarding bumblebee exportsto Chile and their side effects in neighboring Argentina. We have gathered evidence showingthat exporters of bumblebees do not comply with WTO international trade agreements in atleast two ways: (1) the quality of commercialized bumblebees differs from the quality declaredin their certifications, and (2) the countries that sell the bumblebees violate sanitaryagreements, producing negative effects on other native pollinating insects and causing acascade of adverse impacts affecting both the environment and agriculture. This situationsuggests that companies that raise bumblebees are currently in breach of WTO regulationsand continue to contribute to major environmental damage in southern South America andelsewhere.