Police warn West Berks farmers of counterfeit pesticides

Officers from Thames Valley Police are currently investigating their growing distribution and use.
They fear not just the risk to rural communities but links to organised crime gangs.
Counterfeit pesticides, usually imported from China, are not approved for use in the UK or Europe. They present unknown and unquantifiable risks to the safety of the food chain, the environment, professional users and consumers.
Police have asked buyers to ask themselves key questions:
* does the product look or smell unusual?
* have you been offered a product which has been described as the same as another but at a discounted rate?
* have you been sold a product because your first choice was ‘out of stock’?
* do you have any feelings that a product you have bought isn’t quite right? Are there any unusual symptoms or irregularities?(clogged spray jets / nozzles) etc
* is the packaging unusual or not what you would expect?
Chief Executive of the Crop Protection Association, Nick von Westenholz said: “Genuine crop protection products require many years of investment in research, development and testing to prove safety to human health and the environment. This is not the case with illegal pesticides.”
Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Anthony Stansfeld said: “This is a serious aspect of rural crime which I have made a priority.
“The illegal sale of counterfeit pesticides is a threat to all through the food chain, as well as to wildlife. Thames Valley Police now take all aspects of rural crime with the utmost seriousness.”
Police have asked consumers to report any suspicions via the 24-hour non-emergency number 101 and mention ‘Operation Silo’. If you do not want to speak to police, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org