Although many countries already have such a ban in theory, poor enforcement means that it often leaks into agriculture.

ECONOMIST: Banning DDT is a great idea whose time has not yet come

The problem is compounded by the poor enforcement of existing legislation.

BBC: Python skin trade worth a billion - and often illegal

In the wake of this scandal, other critics raised general concerns about the islands' secrecy, their allegedly poor enforcement of regulation and their poor co-operation with other jurisdictions.

ECONOMIST: Offshore financial centres

Blockbusters, such as Eli Lilly's Prozac, went off-patent and drug makers came under public pressure to soften their stance on drug pricing and patent enforcement in poor countries.

ECONOMIST: Economic woes

In these and other developing countries with weak capital markets, underfunded public schooling, and inadequate judicial systems and contract enforcement, the poor are likely to be elbowed out of access to jobs, credit, and other opportunities to be productive.

ECONOMIST: Rich man, poor man

"There is still a huge gap between the existing domestic laws and regulations and the FCTC's requirements, and the implementation and enforcement of existing laws are poor and ineffective, " says the report by Yang and Hu.

CNN: China clouded in cigarette smoke

However, Chinese refineries won't produce cleaner fuel until the higher production costs are addressed by the Finance Ministry, he said, adding that enforcement of existing standards is already poor.

WSJ: China's Pollution Fight Faces Resistance