Security alert for growers and distributors after thieves raid two agrochemical stores
Ahead of the spring application season, farmers, growers and distributors of plant protection products (PPPs) are urged to guard against well-organised criminals seeking to raid secure storage facilities.
The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) is warning farmers and growers to be wary if offered PPPs for sale from unknown or suspicious sources following break-ins at two distributor stores in Bedfordshire and Norfolk in recent weeks.
Thieves used tools to cut through fencing and buildings, gaining access to PPP storage units before stealing significant quantities of valuable products.
The UK’s agri-supply trade association said that crop protection and agronomy companies and farm businesses should be on high alert for the risk of further thefts in these areas as well as throughout the country, and also consider reviewing their security arrangements.
AIC's Head of Crop Protection & Agronomy, Hazel Doonan, said: "In light of these thefts, businesses which store professional plant protection products may wish to check that own their security measures are sufficiently robust.
"Farmers and growers are reminded to only purchase PPPs from reputable suppliers. A professional PPP supplier must employ a member of the BASIS professional register to give advice on professional PPP use.
"Using PPPs that are of unknown provenance can risk business reputation, the acceptance of end produce treated with the product, farm assurance status, and even prosecution."
If you are suspicious of any products being offered for sale, contact the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) by emailing [email protected] immediately.
ENDS
About AIC
As the UK agricultural supply industry's leading trade association, the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) represents businesses in key sectors within the supply chains that feed the nation.
Its Member businesses supply UK farmers and growers with the animal feed, fertiliser, seed, crop protection products, trusted advice and quality services that are essential to producing food, as well as trading crops and commodities across the globe.
Formed in October 2003 by a merger of three trade associations, today AIC has over 230 Members in the agri-supply trade and represents £17.8 billion* turnover at farmgate.
AIC works on behalf of its Members by lobbying policymakers and stakeholders, delivering information, providing trade assurance schemes, and offering technical support.
*According to a 2023 survey of AIC Members.
Press Contact
Oli Hill, Head of Communications, AIC
+44 (0)1733 385230
[email protected]
Author
Oli Hill
As Head of Communications, Oli creates and oversees the content published on AIC's website, emails, Member briefings, print publications, and social media. A qualified multimedia journalist, he previously spent six years working at Farmers Weekly magazine as a Senior Reporter on the arable team, and latterly as Community Editor. More recently he was Communications Manager at Red Tractor.
