Dealer of crop pesticides fined DKK 4 million for repeated violations of pesticide regulations
Økologisk NuSerious breaches of pesticide regulations led authorities in 2025 to rain a large number of hefty fines down on agriculture. On six occasions, farmers were fined more than DKK 100,000 for possessing or using illegal pesticides, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency states in a press release. However, these fines were surpassed by three sellers of pesticides, who were fined DKK 324,000, DKK 750,000 and as much as DKK 4 million for various serious violations. The DKK 4 million fine was imposed for, over three separate inspection years, having collectively possessed illegal pesticides, stored pesticides illegally, illegally labelled them, and possessed illegal rat poison. In Denmark, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for inspecting both sellers and users of pesticides and other crop-protection products, which are subject to strict requirements. When inspections uncover violations, the cases are reported to the police and handed over to the prosecuting authorities. In 2025, 217 cases dating from between 2018 and 2025 were concluded, either because the accused accepted a fine or because the case was brought before the courts. A total of 203 cases ended with a fine. In 28 cases, a court handed down a judgment. Only four cases ended in acquittal. Cases are being incorporated into work on a new pesticide strategy Every year, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s pesticide inspections conduct physical inspections at approximately 650 agricultural businesses and other professional users of pesticides. However, in September 2026, the National Audit Office issued serious criticism of the agency’s inspections, describing them as highly unsatisfactory. The criticism includes the fact that inspections are largely based on companies’ own reports, which the authorities do not verify, and that companies are not selected for inspection to a sufficient extent based on the risk of legal violations. At the same time, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency has in several cases failed to respond to companies’ own reports of violations, even though this was contrary to the Chemicals Act. Therefore, Maria Reumert Gjerding, who became environment minister for the Socialist People’s Party in May, intends to use the experience from the many cases in the work on a new pesticide strategy: “Every violation is a problem because even approved pesticides are harmful to people, the environment and drinking water when handled incorrectly. There are too many examples of the rules not being followed adequately and inspections in this area not being effective enough—it is an essential task to address this when a new pesticide strategy is to be negotiated,” says Maria Reumert Gjerding.
Serious breaches of pesticide regulations led in 2025 to the authorities sending a larger barrage of hefty fines down over the agricultural sector. Six times, farmers have received fines of more than DKK 100,000 for possessing or using illegal pesticides, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency states in a press release.
These fines were, however, surpassed by three dealers in crop protection products, who received fines of DKK 324,000, DKK 750,000 and as much as DKK 4 million for various serious violations. The DKK 4 million fine was imposed for, over three different inspection years taken together, having possessed illegal pesticides, stored pesticides illegally and labelled them illegally, as well as having possessed illegal rat poison.
In Denmark, it is the Danish Environmental Protection Agency that supervises both dealers and users of pesticides and other crop protection products, which are subject to strict requirements. When inspections reveal violations, the cases are reported to the police, and the cases are transferred to the prosecution service.
In 2025, 217 cases from between 2018 and 2025 were concluded, either because the accused accepted a fine or because the case was heard in court. 203 of the cases ended with a fine. In 28 of the cases, a judgment was handed down by a judicial body. Only four of the cases ended in acquittal.
The cases form part of the work on a new pesticide strategy
Every year, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s pesticide control carries out physical pesticide inspections at approximately 650 agricultural businesses and other professional users of pesticides, but in September 2026 the National Audit Office issued serious criticism of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s inspections, which were described as highly unsatisfactory.
The criticism includes the fact that inspections largely rely on the companies’ own reports, which the authorities do not verify, and that companies are not selected for inspection to a sufficient extent based on the risk of violations. At the same time, in several cases the Danish Environmental Protection Agency failed to respond to companies’ own reports of violations, even though this was contrary to the Chemicals Act.
Therefore, Maria Reumert Gjerding, who became environment minister for the Socialist People’s Party in May, will use the experience from the many cases in the work on a new pesticide strategy.:
”Every violation is a problem, because even approved pesticides are harmful to people, the environment and drinking water when handled incorrectly. There are too many examples of the rules not being complied with sufficiently and of controls in this area not being effective enough – it is an essential task to address this when a new pesticide strategy is to be negotiated,” says Maria Reumert Gjerding.