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Brussels, Belgium
November 12, 2008
To step up the fight against counterfeit and illegal pesticides
Spain is launching a telephone Hotline and Poland is holding an
international conference of
enforcement officials in partnership with the European Crop
Protection Association, ECPA. This is the latest development in
a concerted effort begun by ECPA two years ago to end this
dangerous criminal activity.
In Spain: While counterfeit pesticides occur worldwide, in Spain
it has become particularly problematic, especially in Almería.
The fight there was intensified this week by the introduction of
a new telephone Hotline by the Spanish Crop Protection
Association (AEPLA). Informants can use the Hotline to deter
criminal behaviour by reporting the use of illegal plant
protection products or provide information about networks that
distribute illegal products.
According to Sergio Dedominici, Vice President of AEPLA, the new
campaign ".emphasizes the importance of not becoming complacent
because we've made progress. Our Hotline offers a very effective
tool to fight the illegal traffic." Information received through
the hot-line will be passed directly to the Spanish
environmental police - Seprona - and to other authorities
concerned, whose task it is to conduct inspections and enforce
legislation to eradicate the trafficking of illegal pesticides.
In Poland, the Polish Crop Protection Association, PSOR, is also
actively campaigning against illegal pesticides through a
conference being held in Warsaw on 12/13 November 2008. The 2nd
International Conference on "Counterfeit Plant Protection
Products" is organized jointly by PSOR with the Polish State
Plant Health and Seed Inspection Service.
The Conference, held under the auspices of the Polish
Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki, will bring together
representatives of enforcement authorities from 18 countries
from the EU and beyond, including those responsible for the
control of Plant Protection Products. Minister Sawicki and the
Polish Vice minister of Economics will address the conference.
Enforcement authorities will share experiences and learn from
each others' efforts to combat counterfeit and illegal
pesticides, as well as provide input to the European Commission
and the Council of Ministers in relation to the European
Anti-counterfeit strategy.
Rocky Rowe, ECPA Anti-counterfeit campaign manager, says that
"The pesticide industry is engaged in an all-out global campaign
to fight counterfeit and illegal pesticides. However, without
the full support of European institutions and national
authorities, the problem will continue to pose a significant
threat consumers and the environment."
The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) represents
the crop protection industry interests at European level. Its
members include all major companies and national associations
across Europe. |
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