"We don’t know the magnitude of the problem but it is real. The FPA is concerned about this because fake or adulterated pesticides will not only harm your wallet but they can greatly affect people," Sabularse added.
The FPA said it’s sometimes difficult to tell the fake pesticides from the real ones because they look alike and may even have the same active ingredients.
To entice consumers, some unscrupulous dealers buy genuine pesticides and add questionable ingredients and pack their products in bigger containers.
However, Sabularse said the fake products are so diluted that they can’t control pests. In some cases, the active ingredient contained in these fake products may not be applicable to the pests they are used on.
One example is when fake products are used in fogging operations to control dengue-carrying mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects like flies and cockroaches. Or when they are used to control termites that threaten your home. Because the active ingredients in these fake products are either too weak or non-existent, they may give you a false sense of security and threaten your home and your family’s health.
Buying fake products is also a big waste of money since it robs consumers of their hard-earned income and affects the country’s economy.
While the FPA is trying its best to control the problem, Sabularse said his office only has power over licensed manufacturers. If one of them commits an offense, the FPA could issue administrative sanctions against the erring company.
"Depending on the gravity of the offense, the FPA can stop the sale of the questionable product, or recommend the suspension or renovation of the manufacturer’s license," Sabularse said.
To protect the public from fake pesticides, here are some guidelines courtesy of the FPA:
• Before buying any product, check if the dealer is licensed. The updated license should be displayed in the store.
• Look for the FPA registration number. This indicates that the product has been thoroughly evaluated by the FPA.
• Take note of the product’s batch number or lot number so it can easily be traced in the event that something goes wrong.
• Buy only from licensed dealers and ask for an official receipt whenever you make a purchase.
For a list of approved products, call the FPA Planning and Information Division at 922-3355.