On May 24, 2026, Chinese media outlet Global Times reported on the reality of highly toxic pesticides, whose manufacturing and sale are strictly prohibited domestically, being illicitly traded through sophisticated methods by vendors and logistics networks. The article introduced content broadcast by China Central Television (CCTV)'s program "Finance and Economics Investigation." It reported that the program exposed through undercover investigation the reality of stores and businesses in some regions illegally selling highly toxic pesticides that are strictly prohibited or restricted by the state. The program introduced the current situation where Phorate and methyl isofenphos, whose manufacturing and sale have been prohibited by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, are still being illicitly traded online. It reported that vendors emphasized the "safety" of their transaction methods, claiming only online payment and non-face-to-face logistics transportation, to evade surveillance, while sending product photos.

Pesticides
It also reported that vendors were actually carrying out concealment tactics, such as removing manufacturing information from pesticide outer packaging, renaming products from Phorate to other names to disguise them as legitimate products, and not keeping inventory in stores but shipping directly from factories upon order. Furthermore, it stated that the area around the agricultural supplies market in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, where large-scale crackdowns had occurred in the past, still serves as a base for illicit trade, and logistics companies are also proposing fraudulent methods to conceal senders and evade surveillance. It also mentioned that packaging bags and bottles of prohibited pesticides were found in farmlands in places like Feng County, Jiangsu Province, and touched upon remarks from local farmers who said they were "using them to prevent pests in the soil."Pesticides
Following this, it reported that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs launched joint special crackdown operations in four regions: Henan Province, Jiangsu Province, Yunnan Province, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, conducting unannounced inspections of illegal agricultural supplies stores and ordering store closures. (Edited/Translated by Kawajiri)

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