Politicians failing to recognise fake pesticide threat

FAKE pesticides are increasingly present in most European countries, according to a new report from the European Crop Protection Association.

The report: “Counterfeit Pesticides Across Europe: Facts, Consequences and Actions Needed”, concludes that fake pesticides are present in most countries and that five to seven percent of the European pesticides market is effected by counterfeiting and illegal trade. In some regional hot spots, 25 percent or more of products are fakes.
China is cited as a major source of counterfeits, with 86 per cent of all types of counterfeited goods seized in 2006 at external EU borders coming from China. The report argues that regulatory and political activity is not addressing the problem.
The fight against fakes is hindered by low recognition by politicians of the extent and complexity of the problem, weak national enforcement, limited European leadership and inadequate judicial frameworks and penalties.

Threat

Fake pesticides pose significant health threats to farmers, consumers and the environment; they cause economic and reputation damage to farmers, governments and the food production and delivery chain, diminish public confidence in the regulatory process and deter investment for the future, says the report.
In the UK counterfeit pesticide products are believed to account for around two per cent of the market, compared with three per cent in Germany, eight to 10 per cent in Spain and 20 per cent in the Ukraine.
Dominic Dyer , chief executive of the UK’s Crop Protection Association, said that while the level of use of counterfeit products in the UK was small the CPA continued to work closely with PSD and ECPA to monitor the problem and support legal action against the counterfeit trade.
“We are also working with the major food retailers to draw up codes of practice to ensure illegal or counterfeit products do not enter the supply chain,” he said.
The increasing cost of pesticides made the illegal trade more lucrative for criminal gangs particularly in eastern and southern Europe, added Mr Dyer.