China targeting fake agricultural inputs

China is beginning a campaign to prevent the production and sale of fake agricultural products including seeds, pesticides and feeds.

The campaign aims to stop farming yields from being compromised by counterfeit products. In particular, the coalition of Chinese government agencies will target seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, animal drugs, feeds, aquatic fingerling as well as agricultural machinery and tools.

China will intensify oversight of these products around the key farming seasons. The plan also includes longer-term safeguards and deterrents. Counterfeiters will face ‘severe penalties’ and China also plans long-standing security improvements to stop fakers in the future.

Pesticides are an area of particular focus. Highlighting the key links in pesticide manufacturing, distribution and marketing is one of the five goals of the initiative. China ran a similar campaign last year which reportedly netted 33,000 tons of fake agricultural inputs.

The Ministry of Agriculture unveiled the plan at a conference screened in 819 venues across the country.