The NVWA has had over 300 advertisements for illegal pesticides removed from online platforms in the past year. These are substances used to remove green deposits or weeds. Several providers have received an official warning or fine. Buyers of illegal substances also risk a fine. The NVWA advises against purchasing pesticides online without verifying whether they are legal substances.
Recognizing legal substances
The Board for the authorization of plant protection products and biocides (Ctgb) determines which pesticides are authorized on the Dutch market. For example, which substances growers may use to protect their crops from pests and weeds and which substances can be safely used by consumers. The use of unauthorized substances or the improper use of authorized substances can pose dangers to humans (respiratory problems and skin complaints), animals (burns on the tongue and paws of pets), and the environment (contamination of groundwater and displacement of beneficial animals such as bees).
Legal pesticides have a Dutch label and a valid Dutch authorization number. This number can be checked in the authorization database of the Ctgb. The authorization also indicates whether the substance is for professional or non-professional use. Substances that are only suitable for professional users, such as growers, are prohibited for consumers. This applies, for example, to garden pesticides containing glyphosate. There are also legal green deposit cleaners for consumers available in the ECHA database for biocides; these have not been assessed by the Ctgb itself.
Know what you buy online!
On social media, the NVWA will pay extra attention to illegal pesticides and their dangers from April 22 to April 29. Because the same applies to garden pesticides: Know what you buy online!.
For more information, visit: www.nvwa.nl/tuinbestrijdingsmiddelen