Following revelations earlier in October that counterfeit pesticides could be circulating in the UK, experts from Harper Adams University in Shropshire have said that the issue is one UK authorities cannot afford to ignore.

At the beginning of the month, an unidentified UK arable farmer raised concerns over a replacement pesticide supplied by his buying group. The farmer sent the herbicide for testing after becoming suspicious that it could be a counterfeit parallel import.

On Thursday, Harper Adams criminologist and postgraduate researcher, Chris Sambrook, who is part of a team investigating counterfeit crop protection products, said the alert has rightly turned the spotlight onto the issue.

Chris said, "Worldwide fake crop protection products are a major counterfeiting problem – this illegal industry is believed to be worth around $5.8 Billion a year. In some markets within the EU, it is thought that as much as 25 percent of the pesticides sold originate from the black market and are either substandard or counterfeit versions."

In fact, a 2012 report by EU crime intelligence agency Europol suggested the trade in counterfeit pesticides is concentrated in north-eastern Europe, but that almost all EU states are affected to some degree. Europol urged EU policy makers to act on its findings by cracking down on illegal pesticides and commissioning further research into the problem.  

Sambrook added, "This recent case illustrates that UK agriculture may be the target of organised crime gangs who are largely responsible for importing and distributing counterfeit products, including fake pesticides." He said Research being conducted at Harper Adams could identify key areas of risk and help the industry and authorities to act on the threats posed by counterfeit pesticides.

According to Europol, illegal crop protection products threaten not only the health of farmers and consumers, but can be harmful to the natural environment, being either banned varieties or substandard formulas. The EU crime bureau said the products' lack of traceability also has implications for other law enforcement agencies.

On Thursday, Chris Sambrook added, "Counterfeit crop protection products are unlike many other fake goods. Not only do they represent a significant loss to the national economy, as do all counterfeits, but if they find their way into the marketplace, and particularly onto farms, then they also carry significant risks both to the environment and to public health."