Malta participates in largest-ever seizure of illegal/counterfeit pesticides operation

Some 360 tonnes of illegal or counterfeit pesticides were seized in Europe as the result of Operation Silver Axe III, an annual operation co-ordinated by Europol with the support of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

Run over the course of 20 days, Operation Silver Axe III saw checks carried out at major seaports, airports and land borders, as well as production and repacking facilities in Malta and in 26 other participating countries.

It was not said what was seized in individual countries.

Pesticides are one of the most strictly regulated products in the world today, and can only be traded and used in the EU if the products are proven safe and authorised.

Operation Silver Axe focuses on the sale and placing on the market (imports) of counterfeit pesticides, including infringements of intellectual property rights such as trademarks, patents and copyright, as well as targeting the illegal trade of pesticides.

During the action phase, Europol experts exchanged and analysed data received from the participating countries, liaised with stakeholders from 43 private companies involved in the production and commerce of pesticides and provided on-thespot support on request. OLAF, for its part, provided Europol and the participating countries with information on 180 suspicious shipments of pesticides transhipped in the European Union.

Wil van Gemert, Europol’s deputy executive director of operations, commented: “Through such an operation, police across Europe and beyond are aiming the axe at counterfeit pesticides. The record volume of hazardous substances seized this year is an important step in stemming the flow of potentially lethal products into the EU marketplace. The complexity and scale of this fraud means cooperation needs to happen across borders with a multi-agency approach, working hand in hand with the private sector.”.

Graeme Taylor, director of public affairs for the European Crop Protection Association, said: “A series of recent reports have highlighted the growing threat from counterfeit and illegal pesticides: in the EU, it is estimated that they make up almost 14 per cent of the market. This is not just an issue for the companies whose products are being counterfeited, but more significantly poses a risk to health and the environment as they are not subject to any of the rigorous safety tests or regulation that authorised pesticides are. We are pleased to see the continued success of Operation Silver Axe, and are grateful to Europol for taking a lead on this important issue.”

In its third edition, this operation is becoming one of the flagship actions co-ordinated by the Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition (IPC3) hosted at Europol and funded by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) .

Since 2015, the number taking part in Silver Axe has grown each year, reflecting the growing commitment to tackle this issue.