Granules of pesticide are widely used solid formulations both domestically and internationally. However, some granules are applied in a non-targeted manner, with imprecise control of pests and diseases, and higher dosage, failing to meet the requirements of reducing pesticide usage and enhancing efficacy, thus posing challenges to environmental preservation. To strengthen risk management and control in the registration and use of granules and align with the principles of safety, environmental protection, precise control, and reduced pesticide usage while enhancing efficacy, it is proposed to implement management measures for granules.

What do you know about the new policies on pesticide registration management in China for 2023? A bunch of new policies, including the draft of Pesticide Registration Management Measures, the draft of Pesticide Production License Management Measures, the draft of Pesticide Labeling and Manual Management Measures, etc, have been released throughout 2023, to stay in line with the current situation and promote the development of pesticides. In this article, we have summarized the main regulations and new policies on pesticide management released in 2023.

What do you know about the approval status of pesticide products exclusively for export in China? The editorial team from CIRS will take you navigate the review of those products in the following. Throughout 2023, a total of 206 new registrations for exclusively exportable pesticides were granted, including 18 products announced in the 12th batch of public notification for 2023. Among these registrations, there were 35 active ingredients products and 171 formulated products.

25 Dec 2023, China MARA issued its notice No. 736 to officially impose bans on the use of four highly toxic pesticides, namely Omethoate, Carbofuran, Methomyl, and Aldicarb. Effective from June 1, 2024, the registrations of formulation products containing Omethoate, Carbosulfan, Methomyl, and Aldicarb in China will be revoked, and their production will be prohibited. Sales and use of these products will be banned starting from June 1, 2026.

Since the release of the new pesticide management regulations in 2017, the number of newly registered TGAIs in China has been consistently declining each year. CIRS group has compiled a year-end review, providing a reference for the newly registered TGAIs in China as of December 10th, 2023. Prior to 2017, the annual new registered pesticide TGAIs in China ranged from 200 to 400. After 2019, following the requirements of the new regulations, the number of approved TGAIs ranged from 10 to 70 annually. The figure below shows the yearly registered number of TGAIs from 2019 to 2023.

On May 7, 2023, the second meeting of the 10th Fertilizer Registration and Evaluation Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (China MARA) was held in Beijing. The meeting was divided into a chemical fertilizer group and a microbial fertilizer group for review. A total of 26 members attended the meeting, who reviewed 270 fertilizer products, discussed the relevant issues related to fertilizer registration management in China, and put forward opinions and suggestions on strengthening fertilizer management work. The meeting also contained the latest fertilizer registration and review statistics and new regulatory policies for fertilizer registration policies in China.

The CLV certificate, also known as the Certificate of Free Sale (Spanish: Certificado de Libre Venta, abbreviated as CLV), is one of the essential business certificates for many products entering the international market and is often used for customs clearance and overseas regulatory approvals. The CLV Certificate for pesticides in China is usually issued by the ICAMA of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. In addition to this, foreign authorities may also require Chinese export companies to provide a Certificate of Free Sale and a product registration certificate certified by the CCPIT.

On September 4, 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced plans to approve 12 new pesticide products, including Cyclobutrifluram and Flusulfinam. The announcement was made by the ICAMA and Rural Affairs, following the deliberation and approval of the 12 new pesticide products by the First Committee Meeting of the Tenth National Pesticide Registration Review Committee. Among these 12 new pesticide products, there are three active ingredients, one technical material, and eight formulations, involving a total of six active substances, namely: Cyclobutrifluram; Flusulfinam; (7R,9S)-12-dodecen-1-yl acetate; Bacillus thuringiensis SN16-1; Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus KYc01; and Metarhizium anisopliae PL-GM1.

According to the arrangement of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for the formulation and revision of agricultural industry standards in 2023, ICAMA has undertaken the task of developing the standard for "Cultivation of Test Organisms for Environmental Impact Assessment of Pesticide Registration – Part 10: Seven-Star Ladybug" A draft for soliciting opinions has been prepared.

Starting on December 1, 2023, authorities in China will revoke the registration of omethoate, carbofuran, methomyl, and aldicarb formulations, prohibiting their production. However, legally produced products can be sold and used within the quality assurance period until December 1, 2025, after which their sale and use will be prohibited. Only the production and export of technical materials by the original manufacturers will be allowed, and they will be subject to closed-loop operation supervision.