Campaign to crush the illegal pesticides’ trade

Trade in untested and uncontrolled chemicals for use as pest killers is on the rise worldwide and they pose health, environmental and financial risks to those who use them, industry leaders say.

A year-long ‘Watch Out!’ campaign to raise awareness of the problem was announced at London’s Kings College yesterday. The campaign is supported by the Voluntary Initiative and Red Tractor Assurance, with funding from the Crop Protection Association (CPA), National Farmers’ Union and Agricultural Industries Confederation.

Richard Butler, chairman of Voluntary Initiative, the pesticide watchdog, said: “As every farmer, operator and agronomist knows responsible pesticide use starts with using an approved product and following the information on the label. It is really sad that farmers now have to be aware of the danger posed by unscrupulous professional counterfeiters who want to undermine the professionalism and competence of UK farmers and sprayer operators.”

An estimated seven to ten per cent of all pesticides on the EU market are illegal, according to the CPA.

Europol estimates that the annual market for counterfeit and illegal pesticides is worth about £833m and £3.6bn globally. The CPA says if illegal pesticide producers were a single company they would be the fourth or fifth largest in the sector.

Chris Mawdsley, head of compliance for the Health and Safety Executive’s chemicals regulation directorate, warned: “Pesticides are carefully regulated to protect human health and the environment. HSE and other regulators will work together to take robust action against those who break the law on pesticides and unnecessarily put them-selves and others at risk.”

Illegal pesticides tend to enter the EU in bulk consignments under the guise of Parallel Imports, which allow sales of products authorised in one member state to be sold in another, providing it is made by the same company and identical to a product already authorised in the receiving country. The Chemicals Regulation Directorate has withdrawn a number of parallel trade permits to help combat the problem.

Tips to avoid the wrong products

Farmers, operators and agronomists can guard against using illegal pesticides by buying only known and reputable pesticides from known and reputable suppliers.

The Watch Out! campaign also advises buyers to check that packaging is professional, tamper-proof and securely sealed and has a full label written in English; check the product on the invoice and delivery note matches the product ordered and delivered, and check that the product looks as expected. Suspicious products and suppliers can be reported via DEFRA helpline on 08459 33 55 77.