Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Conduct Intensive Crackdown on Illegal Distribution of Agricultural Materials Including Pesticides

by Lee YeongKyu

Published 26 Apr.2023 07:17(KST)

Illegal Distribution of Agricultural Materials Crackdown Poster in Gyeonggi-do

Gyeonggi Province is cracking down on the illegal distribution of agricultural materials such as pesticides.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare announced on the 26th that it will conduct a crackdown on illegal distribution activities related to agricultural materials such as pesticides and fertilizers from the 1st to the 12th of next month.

The crackdown targets 360 locations including agricultural material (pesticide and fertilizer) production and sales stores within the province, as well as flower complexes near urban areas.

The main crackdown items include ▲selling pesticides without business registration ▲storing or selling pesticides past their efficacy guarantee period ▲violating pesticide handling restrictions ▲displaying or selling fertilizers without guarantee marks ▲illegal distribution of agricultural materials through online shopping malls, among others.

The special judicial police plan to simultaneously crack down on sales stores and production and distribution companies during this operation, request administrative actions from the relevant local governments for the detected businesses, and take strict measures according to related laws, including referring cases to the prosecution.

Under the current Pesticide Management Act, selling pesticides without business registration or storing and selling pesticides past their efficacy guarantee period is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won. Violating pesticide handling restrictions results in a fine of up to 3 million won. Additionally, the Fertilizer Control Act stipulates that displaying or selling fertilizers without guarantee marks is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.

Hong Eun-gi, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare, emphasized, "As the busy farming season begins and urban residents' interest in flowers increases, the distribution of substandard pesticides and fertilizers can cause significant harm to farmers and general consumers. We will strongly crack down on illegal distribution management activities."