Bolivia: Over 14% of agrochemical imports are illegal, falsified or adulterated

By Leonardo Gottems, Reporter for AgroPages

More than 14% of all the agricultural pesticides bought by Bolivian farmers are illegally, falsified or adulterated products. This was presented during the "Illegal Trade of Bolivian Pesticides Forum".

This is an initiative of the CropLife Latin America organization together with the Associação de Fornecedores de Insumos Agropecuários (APIA). As two entities allied to the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade, such crimes are of great concern to both agrochemical companies and producers responsible for the country.

“Bolívia is characterized by importing pesticides from different countries, with 63% destined for agriculture or livestock, 25% for trade, 11% for industry and 1% for other activities. In a special way, agricultural areas in Santa Cruz, Cochabamba and Tarija are flooded by counterfeit pesticides for health, causing major economic losses to agricultural producers and serious damage to the environment," said economist Gonzalo Vidaurre, author of the study.

An appeal was made at the forum to the authorities to improve the rules and current controls, aimed at combating the illegal trade in pesticides. "Zero tolerance over falsification, illegality and contraband" was the appeal of the president of APIA, Juan Mario Rojo.

"Import, sell and commercialize pesticides that have not been registered in the Phytosanitary Register only once they have been submitted to a recognized standard of safety in laboratories, which certifies the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the inputs, thereby improving the health of the farmer, providing food, helping the environment and the economy," he concluded.