C ounterfeit and other illegal pesticides have become the most serious threats for agricultural development in Africa. Various reports by credible organizations (BMGF/Monitor Deloitte, A. Toe/ECOWAS-MIR Plus) indicate the increasing proliferation of counterfeit and illegal pesticides (and other agricultural inputs) on the markets in all the countries. The related socio-economic impacts coupled with the health and environment concerns of counterfeit and illegal pesticides justify the needs to put in place strong actions against such a criminal activity. Key stakeholders including the governments, the regulatory authorities, the enforcement bodies, the supply chain, and the pesticide industry are considering concerted actions against the illegal trade of pesticides in Africa.
ANTICOUNTERFEIT STRATEGY OF CROPLIFE AME
The threats posed by counterfeit and illegal pesticides concern all stakeholders involved in pesticide management. These stakeholders include mainly the (government) authorities and the regulatory and registrars, the pesticide industry, pesticide retailers and dealers, farmers and their organizations, commodities exporters and the food industry, consumers, transportation and shipping companies….
Any sustainable alleviation plan should consider the involvement of these key stakeholders. CropLife AME has thus considers the approach of “Addressing the Anticounterfeit Issue as a Collective Responsibility”. This implies to undertake a sensitization and outreach campaign towards and training of the key identified key stakeholders for their engagement in the fight.
Three initiatives undertaken relate to:
“Alleviating counterfeiting and illegal pesticides through awareness creation and Law Enforcement”. Egypt and other countries in North Africa are engaged in the programme
“Cleaning the Supply Chain”. Kenya is leading the programme and other countries in East and Southern Africa are joining with similar activities.
“Combating Illegal Pesticides Regionally”. Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are leading such initiative, with Burkina and Mali joining rapidly.
Visit : CropLife International
