Italian Police Net Biggest Haul of Counterfeits To Date
Record Italian haul of counterfeit pesticides turns spotlight on illegal trade.
In a landmark series of raids following hot line tip-offs, the Anticounterfeit and Health Unit of the Italian police, NAS Carabinieri, has seized more than 120 tonnes of counterfeit pesticides, the biggest haul in the EU to date. The Unit uncovered sophisticated operations that revealed the presence of organised criminal gangs involved in the black market pesticide trade in Veneto, Lombardia, Ancona, Padova and Bari. Investigations continue. The European Crop Protection Association applauds the success of these operations, but warns that more needs to be done because this is a growing problem.
“The illegal import of pesticides poses serious risks to farmers, livestock, the environment and consumers. The success of the Italian Anticounterfeit and Health Unit is an excellent achievement– but could be replicated almost anywhere in Europe, such is the seriousness and scale of the problem. Combating the issue requires greater attention and more resources across the European Union,” said Rocky Rowe, head of ECPA’s Anticounterfeit Programme.
Conscious of the increased trade in counterfeit and illegal pesticides, ECPA began its European Anti-counterfeit project three years ago to raise awareness of the issue and support intelligence gathering and enforcement of regulation. Rocky Rowe explains: “We have been running projects in target countries like Italy for several years. Through our Italian association, Agrofarma, our industry is collaborating with law enforcement agencies and using a hot line for tips which is now proving very effective.”
Criminal organisations operate at many levels, producing sophisticated copies at illegal manufacturing sites. Counterfeit and illegal pesticides are usually made in East Asia but the distribution routes into Europe are complex. Cooperation among the national and European authorities is essential. Marco Rosso, Director of Agrofarma, states that “campaigning and cooperation is now delivering results, as the industry and some law enforcement agencies are taking the problem very seriously.”
ECPA urges farmers to buy pesticides only from trusted suppliers and to be extremely cautious to avoid sophisticated illegal copies. “Buying pesticides on the black market is dangerous for farmers, workers and consumers. Unlike legal, registered products, illegal pesticides have not been tested for human health impact and can contain unknown and untested toxic substances. Besides the obvious health threats for farmers and workers exposed to the products, residues of illegal substances could be carried into our food and compromise consumer health,” adds Rowe.
