Smuggling of agrochemicals generates losses for USD 56 million

By Mayora IP

In Guatemala about two million people are exposed yearly to direct contact with agrochemicals of suspicious origin, according to a monitoring report carried out by the Association of the Agricultural Chemical Union (Agrequima).

The study find out he existence of 209 suspicious trademarks of agrochemicals products, of which 104 were of Guatemalan origin and had no registration number nor label showing country of origin, and 105 were of foreign original and smuggled without registration number into Guatemala. These smuggled trademarks are mostly from Mexico and the United States, according to the report.

Ricardo Estrada, president of Agrequima, stated that the results were already presented to government authorities with the common need of strengthening the fight against trademark infringement, counterfeiting and smuggling . Estrada emphasized that national productivity is affected by such illegalities, along with food security and public health.