Counterfeit Pesticides

Counterfeit pesticides used in agriculture or public health services have become a worldwide problem. Adulteration of pesticides can occur in several stages of manufacturing the active ingredient (AI) when using poor raw materials and low-quality solvents to produce either the AI or the formulation by avoiding required purification procedures, leading to impurities in the form of stereoisomers (cis or trans). Also, counterfeit pesticide producers can use low-cost materials in manufacturing packaging materials, among other methods of adulteration. Impurities in counterfeit pesticides, such as ethylmethanesulfonate, isomalathion, or nonylphenol ethoxylates, could threaten human health, environmental components, and national economies. Elaborate tests are necessary to distinguish between original and counterfeit pesticides. Organized crime trades in counterfeit pesticides, driven by their great profits. Global revenues from counterfeit pesticide trade are estimated at more than €4.4 billion (US$5.4 billion) annually. On global and national levels, measures and rules must be followed to combat counterfeit and contraband pesticides. This Review describes the process of producing counterfeit pesticides, their health and economic effects, and Egypt’s prototypical measures in reducing and stopping this trend.