Pesticide industry fights against illegal pesticides in Spain and Poland

To step up the fight against counterfeit and illegal pesticides Spain is launching a telephone Hotline and Poland is holding an international conference of enforcement officials in partnership with the European Crop Protection Association, ECPA. This is the latest development in a concerted effort begun by ECPA two years ago to end this dangerous criminal activity.?

While counterfeit pesticides occur worldwide, in Spain it has become particularly problematic, especially in Almería. The fight there was intensified this week by the introduction of a new telephone Hotline by the Spanish Crop Protection Association (AEPLA). Informants can use the Hotline to deter criminal behaviour by reporting the use of illegal plant protection products or provide information about networks that distribute illegal products.?

According to Sergio Dedominici, Vice President of AEPLA, the new campaign ".emphasizes the importance of not becoming complacent because we've made progress. Our Hotline offers a very effective tool to fight the illegal traffic." Information received through the hot-line will be passed directly to the Spanish environmental police - Seprona - and to other authorities concerned, whose task it is to conduct inspections and enforce legislation to eradicate the trafficking of illegal pesticides.?

In Poland, the Polish Crop Protection Association, PSOR, is also actively campaigning against illegal pesticides through a conference being held in Warsaw on 12/13 November 2008. The 2nd International Conference on "Counterfeit Plant Protection Products" is organized jointly by PSOR with the Polish State Plant Health and Seed Inspection Service.

The Conference, held under the auspices of the Polish Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki, will bring together representatives of enforcement authorities from 18 countries from the EU and beyond, including those responsible for the control of Plant Protection Products. Minister Sawicki and the Polish Vice minister of Economics will address the conference. Enforcement authorities will share experiences and learn from each others' efforts to combat counterfeit and illegal pesticides, as well as provide input to the European Commission and the Council of Ministers in relation to the European Anti-counterfeit strategy.?

Rocky Rowe, ECPA Anti-counterfeit campaign manager, says that "The pesticide industry is engaged in an all-out global campaign to fight counterfeit and illegal pesticides. However, without the full support of European institutions and national authorities, the problem will continue to pose a significant threat consumers and the environment."