How to Identify Counterfeit Pesticides

Packaging Inspection: The First Line of Defense

1.Product Name Verification

Pesticide product names must use approved generic or legal nomenclature and should not contain exaggerated efficacy claims. Labels featuring crop-specific claims or overstated performance assertions may indicate counterfeit products. 

2.Mandatory Certifications ("Three Permits")  

In China, pesticide production requires mandatory registration. Unregistered pesticides are prohibited from being manufactured, distributed, or used. As such, all pesticide packaging must display three certification numbers:①Pesticide Registration Number (e.g., PD20230001)②Production License Number (e.g., XK13-003)③Product Standard Number (e.g., Q/XXXX).Absence of any certification number may indicate counterfeit products.

3.Color-Coded Identification Lines

Legitimate packaging must display colored bands indicating product type:

Black: Fungicide
Red: Insecticide
Yellow: Growth Regulator
Blue: Rodenticide
Green: Herbicide
Mismatched colors = Red flag

4.QR Code Authentication

Consumers may scan the QR code to verify pesticide information and cross-check its consistency with packaging details. However, caution is advised as fraudulent sellers may operate counterfeit verification websites—vigilance in authentication remains essential.

5.Packaging Quality

Counterfeit pesticides are typically characterized by substandard packaging—poor manufacturing quality, aesthetically deficient designs, and potential container breaches leading to chemical leakage. Furthermore, their instruction manuals frequently contain typographical errors, ambiguous phrasing, and/or technically inaccurate statements.

6.Product Inspection (Granules Example)  

Authentic granules should be:
Uniform in size/color
Free of impurities
Consistent texture
Irregularities indicate substandard quality