Farmers sometimes buy cheaper pesticides to reduce costs. However, those who do so are at risk of suffering losses far greater than those saved, since these cheap pesticides are often misrepresented.
Pseudo-sticides, although in some cases they are sophisticated copies of real products, in others they are economic imitations, according to the journal Chemistry and Industry. According to the European Association for Crop Protection, the problem is increasingly serious and there are big differences between countries. For example, 10% of pesticides used in Poland are false, but in the Almeria area in Spain this percentage reaches 25%.
These compounds are not allowed and can be dangerous, but still reach the fruits and vegetables of supermarkets. According to the European Crop Protection Association, some people have become ill for these products. In addition, farmers who use these products also harm their health, as well as the environment and crops, which can cause their loss.