European Crop Protection

Increasing quantities of fake pesticides are being produced, marketed and sold around the world, while advances in technology and relaxed trade laws facilitate the spread of fake products. This is serious organised crime.

What are counterfeit pesticides?

Increasing quantities of fake pesticides are being produced, marketed and sold around the world. Advances in technology along with relaxed trade laws facilitate the spread of fake products.

• Sophisticated counterfeits (packaging and labelling identical to legitimate products)
• Illegal parallel imported products, masquerading as legitimate but containing inferior materials
• Low quality copies, often with plain or no labelling, unregistered and untested

How does this dangerous trade work?

1. Illegal pesticides are most often produced in Asia. Production operations vary, but in all cases they do not comply with the same strict quality and safety standards as in Europe.
2. Illegal products are shipped to the EU by air or sea freight. They are usually falsely identified and ignore safety standards for transport and handling. Highly toxic and flammable substances are routinely transported without regard to the safety of crews, handlers or the general public.
3. Products are distributed throughout Europe by organised criminals, many of whom are involved in narcotics trafficking, smuggling and prostitution.
4. Illegal pesticides are used on farms around the EU, threatening consumers’ health, the environment and farmers’ livelihoods. They are trafficked through commercial distributors or directly by criminal gangs.