“It is estimated that illegal pesticides represent around 20% of the sector’s legal market in Brazil, which is close to R$30 billion per year.” The statement comes from Claudio Spadotto, member of the Sustainable Agro Scientific Council (CCAS) and general manager of Embrapa Gestão Territorial.
According to him, smuggling and counterfeiting of pesticides pose risks to human health, threaten food and consumer safety, pose risks to the environment, and also harm the job market. One of the problems, he points out, is that they are often transported precariously – sometimes alongside loads of soybean meal, cornmeal and wheat flour.
“They reduce revenue and harm the Tax Authorities (approximately R$3 billion per year), cause substantial loss of investment, including foreign investment, hinder agribusiness exports, encourage corruption and disrespect for the Law, and encourage organized crime, drug trafficking drugs and weapons”, he explains.
In the last two and a half years, there have been more than 161 cases of pesticide counterfeiting registered and counterfeiters have been identified in 15 Brazilian states, with a distribution structure covering all regions of the country. More than 30 clandestine laboratories were closed, says Spadotto.
According to the expert, seizures in Brazil of illegal, smuggled and counterfeit pesticides totaled 654 tons between 2001 and 2016. More than 550 tons were incinerated, at an estimated cost of R$8.5 million. Suspects were detained, totaling 1,193 people, of which 53 people were convicted.
“It is estimated that, with these seizures, more than 5.8 million hectares of crops were no longer treated with illegal pesticides, mainly soy and wheat. If these seizures had not been made, the environment and many people would still be at risk”, he concludes.
Source: Agrolink
