China shares details of counterfeit pesticide operations

China’s Ministry of Agriculture investigated over 6,500 cases involving counterfeit pesticides in 2014, resulting in the uncovering of 68 counterfeiting operations, and the reclaiming of some Yuan 472 million ($76 million at the current rate) in potential losses for Chinese farmers. The Ministry shared details of several “model cases” that it dealt with in 2014, which it hopes will act as “deterrents”. One such case occurred in June 2014, when officials shut down a pesticide counterfeiting operation in China’s Guangxi province. The counterfeiters were producing and selling a “large quantity” of the insecticides, omethoate and phorate.  As of 2011, China no longer issues registrations or manufacturing permits for either of the “high-toxicity” active ingredients. The counterfeit pesticides also were found to contain lower ai content than the labelling indicated, as well as traces of other ais. The Ministry said that the counterfeiters sold fake pesticides valued at some Yuan 2.8 million ($450,000) in 2013, and that those involved have been detained.