Brussels, Belgium
September 27, 2007
The Polish Ministry of Agriculture
is today hosting an International Conference of European
enforcement authorities in Falenty, Poland. At the conference,
authorities will discuss how to further improve co-operation and
co-ordination in the international fight against counterfeit
pesticides. The Polish State Plant Health and Seed Inspection
Service (PIORiN) in the Ministry of Agriculture is organising
the Conference, which is titled: "Falsification and other
problems with plant protection products marketing".
The conference will bring together 80+ enforcement officials,
senior police and other services from Poland, Austria, Germany,
Romania, Netherlands, Italy, Ukraine, Czech Republic and
Lithuania. The purpose of the conference is to exchange
information on challenges, to form a Standing Working Group
responsible for fighting counterfeits and to create a dedicated
channel of information exchange between European countries.
Industry has been closely involved in organising the Conference
and PIORiN strongly supports the European Crop Protection
Association (ECPA) anti-counterfeit campaign, led in Poland by
the Polish Crop Protection Association (PSOR). The Polish
Parliament and the Minister of Agriculture have also expressed
their support.
Counterfeiting and illegal trade of pesticides is an increasing
problem in many European countries. Unlike legitimate products,
illegal products are untested and unregulated and can damage
farmers' crops and the environment. Counterfeits can negatively
affect consumer health, food safety, industry and national
economies. The multi-year Europe-wide campaign against fake
products was initiated by ECPA in 2006. The main goal is to
limit counterfeits through close co-operation with relevant
national authorities, to build public awareness of the problem
and improve European legislation.
The European Crop Protection
Association represents the crop protection industry at
European level. |
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