Authorities crack down on illegal pesticides
by Phuoc Buu

The Department of Plant Protection said inspections had found 2,000 to 3,000 violations, 35 per cent of which were purchases of counterfeit pesticides.

"There has been a mix of real and fake agricultural materials in Viet Nam, including pesticides," said Prof Bui Ba Bong, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Bong said fake and low-quality products had affected the growth of the agriculture sector as well as farmers' income.

Experts said the use of fake pesticides could lead to more severe consequences.

"Illegal and counterfeit pesticides destroy crops, cause losses to farmers, and create food losses and food safety problems," said D'Arcy Quinn, director of anti-counterfeiting for the Belgium-based CropLife International, which represents the plant science industry.

Quinn told a recent workshop in HCM City that illegal and counterfeit pesticides had caused several agricultural products to be banned in several countries.

In 2000 and 2003, Viet Nam issued legal regulations on the management of agricultural materials like pesticides, fertilisers and seedlings.

But sector authorities wanted the regulations to be strengthened an d they also called for more co-operation among sectors on prevention against fake pesticides.

Bong said the Government and the ministry had developed a legal framework and penalties for the purchase and circulation of fake products, but penalties would be increased if they were found to be ineffective.

The Department of Plant Protection said that a law on plant protection was being drafted and would be submitted to the National Assembly for approval.

To enhance the management of pesticides before the law takes effect, the department plans to adjust an agricultural decree, said Phung My Van, deputy chief inspector of the department.

The adjustment would create a legal basis for stricter management of pesticides to ensure the quality of agricultural products and food safety.

Inspectors

Van said inspections in the last two years had not been effective due to several changes of inspectors.

"There are 93 factories and 28,000 stores nationwide working in producing and purchasing pesticides. At least 454 inspectors once a year inspect factories and stores," she said.

Van urged more co-operation between sectors, including customs, police and border guards, to improve management of pesticide purchase and circulation.

According to Nguyen Xuan Hong, director of the Department of Plant Protection, inspections could be conducted by the department's inspectors or by local departments of agriculture and rural development.

However, there has been a conflict between the two on the level of penalties that should be imposed.

The Department of Cultivation said penalties imposed locally required reporting to local People's Committees of the province or city. This has resulted in time wasting and ineffective penalties.

"Counterfeiters often come to a locality and make a quick sale of fake products," said Pham Van Du, deputy director of the department. "When penalties are imposed, they just move and sell the items at another location." — VNS

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