China ramps up crackdown on counterfeit agricultural products

China's top judicial authorities have pledged to intensify their efforts to combat counterfeit agricultural products, aiming to further ensure food safety and provide stronger legal support for agricultural development.

On Friday, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate released the details of five significant criminal cases, emphasizing the importance of robust judicial protection to ensure farmers have access to high-quality, affordable, and sufficient agricultural inputs.

The cases involve seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, and feed — including incidents where kaolin was misrepresented as pesticides and old seeds were sold as new. Some criminals posted false advertisements online to profit from agricultural products, while others used organized schemes to deceive farmers into purchasing inputs face-to-face.

The top judicial bodies stressed that prosecutors and judges nationwide are committed to strictly punishing crimes related to the production and sale of counterfeit agricultural supplies. Besides imposing severe penalties — such as prison sentences of 10 years or more — they also focus on enforcing substantial financial punishments.

In January 2024, a case emerged involving an individual surnamed Liu, who advertised on social media claiming to sell Baizhu (Atractylodes macrocephala) seeds, a traditional Chinese medicine. Liu initially acquired 1,550 kilograms of old such seeds and then mixed them with seeds of another traditional Chinese medicine.

Liu falsely marketed the mixture as new Baizhu seeds to 16 farmers, profiting over 1.89 million yuan ($274,656). After planting, the germination rate was significantly lower than neighboring fields, resulting in total or partial crop failure and causing economic losses exceeding 13.66 million yuan.

Liu was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined 1 million yuan by a court in Jiangxi province for selling fake seeds. The court noted that online sales of counterfeit agricultural supplies have widespread impact and severe consequences, making it difficult for victims to seek justice. The case highlighted that effective regulation and oversight of such sales require joint efforts from the government, e-commerce platforms, and other stakeholders.

"Farmers should verify sellers' credentials and choose reputable vendors when purchasing agricultural supplies online," it advised. "If they encounter counterfeit products, they should promptly file complaints and report the issue to authorities to protect their legitimate interests."