Counterfeiting is a dangerous and growing problem for all industries, including the plant science industry.
Counterfeiting of plant science products brings to bear a range of negative effects for the industry, farmers and the environment.
These negative impacts of counterfeit pesticides include:
- economic ruin for the farmer; potential loss of harvest due to use of an ineffective counterfeit
- discouragement to honest local entrepreneurs from investing in legitimate product development
- hampering of investment, employment, technology transfer and tax revenues
- the potential harm to the environment as counterfeits are not tested for safety (whereas legal products are extensively tested before they are authorized and fulfill strict requirements)
- risk that buyers of export crops will boycott crops treated with counterfeit pesticides thus posing an economic risk to countries relying on export crops
The effect of counterfeiting is that it could eliminate the incentive for plant science companies to continue to invest considerable time and money in the development of new technologies that can help assure global food security and alleviate hunger and poverty. Furthermore, counterfeit pesticides risk the health and safety of workers and farmers.
The plant science industry is committed to innovation and delivery of state-of-the-art products to the world’s farmers, and thereby increase food security and encourage social development. We work with police, customs and regulators for the implementation and enforcement of intellectual property rights to ensure that only authentic crop protection products are traded and used in a safe, responsible manner.
CropLife International is a member of the following anti-counterfeiting organisations:
- Interpol Intellectual Property Crimes Action Group
- Business Alliance to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy
- REACT, Anti-Counterfeiting Network
- IPR Business Partnership
- OECD Task Force on Charting Illicit Trade
- INTA (International Trademarks Association) Anti-Counterfeiting Subcommittee