ARABLE INPUTS: BUYER'S REPORT – COUNTERFEIT PESTICIDES
DON’T FALL VICTIM TO COUNTERFEIT PESTICIDES “Counterfeit goods are fake items, deliberately made to look genuine. They mimic original legitimate branded products, usually with high-quality labelling and packaging which reproduces the outer appearance of the originals, but are an unknown quantity in terms of quality, biological efficacy and safety to human and crop health. Their content ranges from very good copies of the original active ingredient to colourants and inert materials which are ineffective. “Bayer takes a zero-tolerance position towards illegal activities, and has a global strategy to efficiently combat counterfeit and illegal crop protection products. We are driving activities to combat their production and distribution, apply a strict policy with our business partners and expect their full support in fighting illegal activity. We support authorities worldwide with services and intelligence, as well as raising awareness and providing training.” Continued on page 9
When it comes to counterfeit and illegal pesticides, we must all be vigilant says Laura Buckingham, Arable Manager, Fram Farmers. The global trade in counterfeit and illegal pesticides is estimated by the European Crop Protection Association at US$6.5 billion. In China and India such products account for 30% of the market, in Europe it is 7-10%, and with legal pesticides essential to the farming industry we must all be vigilant. Suppliers are criminals who use the huge profits to fund more illegal activities. The counterfeit and illegal pesticides they sell are unauthorised, unregulated, untested and potentially pose severe risks to the health of farmers and sprayer operators. They may damage or destroy crops, leave unknown residues in food leading to criminal proceedings, jeopardise SPS entitlements, pose risks to wildlife, water and soil, and cause environmental waste problems. Such products threaten the entire value chain. Legitimate manufacturers lose €1.3 billion annually from this illegal trade, pesticide retailers and distributors suffer loss of reputation and business, growers and farmers are exposed to significant risks, food companies lose supplies and trust, while food security is reduced. No-one wins except the criminals. While the Fram Farmers Arable Team source products at competitive prices, protecting members’ interests by ensuring that what we purchase is genuine, and complies fully with relevant legislation, is a given. Therefore, we applaud the efforts of legitimate manufacturers and distributors to police this issue and work together to address it. If you are offered pesticides at a significant discount, remember that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
ZERO-TOLERANCE APPROACH
Bayer CropSciences’ Channel Marketing Manager – Combineables, Nick Duncan, told us: The checks and balances in place throughout the UK supply industry mean that counterfeit and illegal pesticides are not a big issue here, but occasionally they do appear in the market. To minimise risk, farmers should know what to look for, be vigilant and only deal with reputable suppliers. “Authentic crop protection products undergo intensive testing and strict regulatory evaluation, which guarantees high-quality formulations that contribute towards sustainable agriculture.
To help farmers and distributors to distinguish original Bayer crop protection products from counterfeits, the company developed the Bayer CapSeal App, a highly sophisticated, interactive app for Apple or Android platforms. In addition to a hologram, the CapSeal contains a QR-code which, when scanned using the CapSeal App, provides immediate feedback regarding the code’s authenticity. Moreover, an unbroken CapSeal indicates that the bottle was originally closed by Bayer. Further information: www.bayer.com/counterfeits-in-agriculture
7
