Nothing is certain, that’s for sure. It’s what people say sometimes, and it certainly holds true for China. Admittedly, while 'nothing' may sound overly pessimistic, ‘a lot’ is certainly uncertain here. Take that Range Rover Evoque driving by, for example, or that bag of fertiliser in your shed: chances are that the Evoque is not really an Evoque but a Landwind. In this case, thankfully, it says so nicely and clearly on the trunk. With that bag of fertiliser, however, there is no way of knowing whether it contains what it says on the label.
This really is a bit of an issue here, and it is why we only buy from reputable shops and international brands. Still, you must remain cautious. Sometimes, when a supplier is out of stock, he won't admit he can't deliver. Instead, he calls a few of his other customers to ask if they have some leftover stock, which he then sends to us without even checking what on earth that customer might have kept in those jugs.
This happens, and it is why we have extensive procedures for checking incoming stuff. After all, fertilisers and pesticides are the sort of things you don't want to run any risk with. So, on arrival, we check whether it is in the proper, original packaging and whether it is still sealed. The colour, the composition, even the smell of the product; we check everything. And if it's not right, we send it back. When in doubt, we set it apart and talk to the supplier.
