Tons of illegal fertiliser from China seized at Bari port

In Bari, Italy, the Guardia di Finanza, in collaboration with Customs Agency personnel, confiscated more than 40 tons of Dormex, a fertilizer prohibited within Europe since 2008. This substance is utilized in agriculture to expedite the growth of fruit trees. The interception of the illicit product, originating from China and arriving via Greece, occurred at the port of Bari. Chemical analysis conducted at the Bari Customs Agency laboratory on samples of the seized material verified its composition as ‘cyanamide,’ commonly known as Dormex. This phytostimulant is proscribed due to its inherent toxicity and the potential for adverse effects on both human health and the environment, including possible long-term consequences. According to a statement issued by the Guardia di Finanza, this seizure underscores the presence of a clandestine market for illegal and counterfeit phytostimulants that fail to meet the minimum safety requirements stipulated by the European Union. Three individuals have been reported to the judicial authorities on charges of commercial fraud and violation of pertinent European legislation.