Illegal weed and pest killers on eBay

Trading standards is investigating the sale of illegal pesticides and weedkillers in the UK on eBay.

Reporters from Greenpeace’s investigation arm Unearthed said they were able to buy five different pesticides and herbicides unauthorised for sale in the UK, which all contained chemicals harmful to humans and wildlife.

The products on offer to UK shoppers included atrazine, a weedkiller that has been banned across the EU for more than a decade and “Miraculous Insecticide Chalk”, which US environmental regulators have warned is especially hazardous to children as it appears similar to colouring chalk.

EBay has taken down

“All contain chemicals harmful to humans”

the listings, which it said were temporarily visible to UK buyers because of a glitch in shipping availability.

Greenpeace UK campaigner Ben Stewart said: “This is the world’s largest online marketplace – it is not the dark web.

“Yet none of the products we purchased have been cleared for sale in the UK.

“They all contain dangerous chemicals that can be harmful to humans and wildlife. Some were even mislabelled as safe when they’re anything but.

“A multi-billion-pound online giant like eBay should be able to afford a zero-tolerance policy on illegal pesticides that monitors what’s on sale and blocks out dangerous products.”

Westminster City Council, which is the primary authority for all trading standards issues associated with eBay in the United Kingdom, said it was investigating Greenpeace’s claims.