Brazil tightens control on illegal agrochemicals

Date:08-03-2009

Brazilian authorities initiated a campaign back in 2001 to crack down on illegal agrochemicals. Enforcers, however, have been particularly busy over the past year as the financial crisis has boosted demand for cheaper pirated products.

Authorities have seized nearly 40 tons of illegal agrochemicals over the past 12 months, and are now going a step further by screening registered products to make sure they comply with initial registration details.

Last week Milenia, a top-six agrochemicals company in Brazil, had five products suspended after components did not match the details registered with inspection authorities Anvisa.

The products - Herbimix, Pyrinex, Posmil, Trop and Podos - include glyphosate and other chemicals and will be suspended for 90 days pending investigation.

In a press statement Milenia, owned by Israel-based Makhteshim Agan Industries the world's biggest maker of generic agrochemicals, claims it uses only fully certified ingredients, and will present its case to Anvisa within the next five days.

Brazil overtook the U.S. last year as the world's largest consumer of agrochemicals, with total sales of around $7 billion.