Europol makes largest-ever seizure of fake pesticides
Europol has seized 360 tonnes of counterfeit or illegal pesticides across Europe over the course of 20 days, in what the agency has deemed its largest-ever haul of fake pesticides.
Operation Silver Axe III, an annual operation coordinated by Europol with the support of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), was carried out in 27 participating countries.
With the 360 tonnes of counterfeit pesticide seized, 48,000 square kilometres could be sprayed (almost the size of the UK).
Checks were carried out at major seaports, airports and land borders, as well as production and repacking facilities.
During the operation, Europol experts exchanged and analysed data from the participating countries, liaised with stakeholders from 43 private companies involved in the production and commerce of pesticides, and provided on-the-spot support on request.
OLAF provided Europol and the countries with information on 180 suspicious shipments of pesticides transhipped in the EU.
Wil van Gemert, Europol’s deputy executive director of operations, said: “Through such an operation, police across Europe and beyond are aiming the axe at counterfeit pesticides.”
He noted that the record volume of hazardous substances seized so far this year is an “important step in stemming the flow of potentially lethal products into the EU marketplace”.
Last year, 122 tonnes of illegal or counterfeit pesticides were seized from 16 EU countries over the course of ten days. With that amount, 4,888 square kilometres (almost twice the size of Luxembourg) could be sprayed.
Graeme Taylor, director of public affairs for the European Crop Protection Association (which cooperated in the operation), said that recent reports have highlighted the growing threat from fake pesticides.
In the EU it’s estimated that fake pesticides make up almost 14% of the market, said Taylor.
“This is not just an issue for the companies whose products are being counterfeited, but more significantly poses a risk to health and the environment as they are not subject to any of the rigorous safety tests or regulation that authorised pesticides are,” he concluded.
According to a report from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) is lost every year across the EU because of fake pesticides.
This adds up to a loss of 13.8% of legitimate revenues each year, causing the loss of 2,600 jobs across the EU pesticides industry.
Paul Maier, director of the EUIPO’s Observatory on Infringements of IP rights, added: “That is just the economic cost—the potentially harmful effects that counterfeit pesticides can have on the food chain, and consequently the health and safety of consumers, is extremely worrying.”
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