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Tereza Cristina, Brazil's Minister of Agriculture, at the press conference on the new pesticides policy, Brazilia, 6 August 2019. EVARISTO SA / AFP

In Brazil, since Jair Bolsonaro's far-right government came to power, 262 pesticides have been registered between January and July. The health surveillance agency has just redefined the classification of certain pesticides: only those that risk death will be defined as " extremely toxic " and nearly 600 products will no longer carry the words: " poison attention ". A decision that worries Brazilian consumers.

From our correspondent in Rio , Sarah Cozzolino

Katia Bonfadini comes out of a supermarket, in the well-to-do neighborhood of Botafogo in her bags, some organic products. For her, the revision of the classification of dangerous products is not a change of label, it is an additional threat to the health of Brazilians. " It's disturbing, really worrying when you try to take care of your health. I do not know, I hope that this decision will be reviewed, because health is what is most important. "

Bio also affected by pesticides

However, organically grown products are still very expensive for the majority of Brazilians. Victor Camelo tried a moment, but he had to return to the conventional because of budget. He regretted the relaxation of Brazilian legislation. " Most pesticides are banned in many other countries, but allowed here. We are a kind of test laboratory where scientists say: '' we are going to launch a new pesticide, let's do it in Brazil because the legislation allows it! '' We feel like guinea pigs .

And even those who consume organic in Brazil are not immune to pesticides. Several recent studies have shown high levels of these products in tap water.