Europe’s fake pesticide crisis: inside a $20 billion illegal trade
In northern Greece, cut-price illegal pesticides smuggled in by organised crime networks are tempting cash-strapped farmers, despite mounting evidence of the risks to health and the environment.
By Euronews
Published on 15/09/2026 - 15:00 GMT+2
Up to 14% of Europe's pesticide market may be counterfeit or illegal, rising to 25% in parts of Greece.
Farmers in Serres say the appeal is purely financial: illegal products can cost a sixth of the approved price. But scientists warn these unregulated substances, often smuggled from Turkey, contain carcinogenic chemicals banned across the EU.
Police describe organised international networks moving products by car, truck and even tourist bus. Since 2020, authorities have seized nearly 8,700 tonnes of banned pesticides, part of a trade worth an estimated $20 billion globally each year, according to TRACIT.
