Australian police raid illegal agchem firm

Australian police have searched the premises of an unnamed pesticide importer and formulator in Western Australia as part of a fraud investigation. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is investigating whether the company submitted details of non-existent overseas pesticide manufacturing facilities when seeking registrations for a range of agrochemicals. Compliance officers from the APVMA accompanied the police in their search of three company premises.

It is a condition of registration that active ingredients are manufactured at sites known to, or authorised by, the APVMA, the Authority points out. “If it is confirmed that the Western Australian company deliberately submitted false particulars, criminal sanctions will be sought,” says the APVMA’s regulatory strategy and compliance programme manager, Neville Matthew. The APVMA would also consider rescinding the registrations of the products concerned.

The products under investigation include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. The APVMA has no evidence that the products are unsafe or ineffective, but it would require more testing if necessary. Product recalls may be needed, but no decision on this has yet been taken.