Annual Review: Summary of New Policies for Pesticide Registration in China in 2024

To further enhance the pesticide management system, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' Pesticide Management Office, in collaboration with the Institute Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, P.R. China (ICAMA), developed and released a series of policies in 2024.

These policies align with pesticide development and environmental protection requirements, particularly through the implementation of five draft regulations, including the "Pesticide Registration Management Measures."

To assist companies in understanding China's new pesticide registration policies for 2024, the agrochemical team at CIRS has compiled the following summary.

April

On April 8, 2024, the Pesticide Management Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released pesticide registration information (Issue No. 5, 2024). The information states that the National Pesticide Registration Review Committee believes new pesticides should be innovative and offer significant advantages over existing registered products in terms of safety and effectiveness. In principle, new pesticides with food additives and pesticide adjuvants as active ingredients will not be approved for registration.

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/28077

June

On June 6, 2024, the ICAMA issued a notice establishing a "Director's Reception Day." This initiative aims to facilitate communication and address key and complex issues encountered during the technical review processes for pesticide registration and laboratory accreditation. It also seeks feedback on the review work and suggestions for promoting high-quality development in the pesticide industry. The "Director's Reception Day" will typically be held on the second Friday of each month (mid-month) in the conference room of ICAMA.

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/28355

July

On July 4, 2024, the Pesticide Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released the pesticide registration information (No. 12, 2024), the main contents of which are as follows:

1) Regarding the mixing of active ingredients of pesticides with the same mode of action.

According to the opinions of the National Pesticide Registration Review Committee, in principle, the mixing of active ingredients of pesticides with the same mode of action is not allowed. If there is evidence of low risk of cross-resistance and reasonable necessity of mixing through tests or data, it shall be submitted to the National Pesticide Registration Review Committee for deliberation and determination.

2) About the registration of new pesticide mixed formulations.

According to the opinions of the National Pesticide Registration Review Committee, new pesticide formulations should give priority to applying for registration of solo formulations. If it is necessary to apply for registration of mixed formulations, proof of the necessity and rationality of the mixing should be provided, and it should have obvious advantages compared with solo formulations.

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/28574

On July 26, 2024, the Crop Production Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a letter soliciting public opinions on the national standard for maximum residue limits of pesticides in food (draft for comments). The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs organized the drafting of the "Maximum Residue Limits of 83 Pesticides Including MCPA-isooctyl in Food (Draft for Comments)" and "Maximum Residue Limits of 57 Pesticides Including Fenpyrazamine in animal-derived products (Draft for Comments)" standard texts.

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/28857

On July 30, 2024, the Crop Production Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a letter to solicit public comments on the national standard for pesticide residue detection methods (draft for comments). The department organized the drafting of three national standards for pesticide residue detection methods, including the "National Food Safety Standard – Determination of 11 Pesticide Residues including Clopyralid in Plant-derived foods, Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Draft for Comments)".

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/28898

August

On August 1, 2024, the General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued Document No. 2 [2024], titled 'Letter on Soliciting Opinions on Control Measures for Aluminum Phosphide and Chloropicrin.' The letter indicated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs plans to implement the following control measures on these two highly toxic pesticides, aluminum phosphide, and chloropicrin

1. Starting from October 1, 2024, the pesticide registration and production permits for aluminum phosphide formulations will be revoked for manufacturers of these products. However, the registration and production permits for both the technical grade active ingredients (TGAIs) and formulations of aluminum phosphide will be retained for manufacturers of the technical material. The use of aluminum phosphide formulations will be restricted to the control of insect pests in stored grains only.

2. Starting from October 1, 2024, the approval of new pesticide registrations and production permits for chloropicrin will be halted. Existing registrations and production permits for chloropicrin formulations will be retained. The use scope and application methods will be restricted to soil fumigation only.

3. Starting from October 1, 2024, manufacturers of aluminum phosphide and chloropicrin products will supply these products directly to grain storage enterprises and specialized pest control service organizations that meet the technical conditions for safe use. These products are restricted for use by professional technicians who are familiar with the application methods and safety precautions. Products that have already entered market circulation before October 1, 2024, can continue to be sold within their validity period but are restricted for use by professional technicians only.

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/28970

On August 9, 2024, ICAMA issued a letter soliciting opinions on national standards related to environmental impact tests for pesticide registration. The letter primarily concerns the revision of 17 national standards, including the 'Guidelines for Environmental Safety Evaluation of Chemical Pesticides, Part 1: Soil Metabolism Tests.

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/28980

On August 30, 2024, The Legislative Affairs Office issued a notice soliciting opinions on the 'Announcement on the Promotion and Application of Electronic Certificates Related to Agricultural Administrative Approval (Draft for Comments).' This initiative aims to implement the deployment and requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council regarding the optimization of government services and the improvement of administrative efficiency, to accelerate the expansion of application areas for electronic certificates and their nationwide interoperability, and to promote the standardization, regularization, and facilitation of government services.

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/29056

September

On September 29, 2024, the Efficacy Evaluation Division of the Pesticide Registration Institute of the ICAMA organized the revision of 63 national standards, including the 'Guidelines for Indoor Efficacy Tests and Evaluation of Public Insecticides for Pesticide Registration' and the 'Guidelines for Field Efficacy Tests of Pesticides (1)', and issued a draft for soliciting opinions.

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/29253

October

On October 11, 2024, the Legislative Affairs Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued Announcement No. 829 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China. To implement the deployment and requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council regarding the optimization of government services and the improvement of administrative efficiency, and to accelerate the expansion of application areas for electronic certificates and their nationwide interoperability, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has decided to promote and apply electronic certificates related to agricultural administrative approval. The following matters are hereby announced:

1. Starting from November 1, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will promote and apply five types of electronic certificates issued at the ministry level nationwide: the Pesticide Registration Certificate, the Pesticide Registration Test Unit Certificate, the Fertilizer Registration Certificate, the Veterinary Drug Product Approval Number Document, and the Quarantine Approval Form for Imported Agricultural Seedlings from Overseas. These electronic certificates will be issued concurrently with paper certificates and have equal legal effect. Starting from January 1, 2025, corresponding paper certificates will no longer be issued.
2. Electronic certificates will bear the electronic seal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' Special Approval Seal. The specific format is attached.
3. Paper certificates that have already been issued and are still valid may continue to be used until they are renewed, at which point they will be replaced with electronic certificates.
4. Applicants can log in to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Government Service Platform (https://zwfw.moa.gov.cn) to view and download their electronic certificates.
5. The public can verify the validity of electronic certificates through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Government Service Platform or by scanning the QR code on the electronic certificate using a mobile browser to query certificate information.
6. Agricultural and rural departments at all levels should fully recognize the importance of promoting the application of electronic certificates and better play the important role of electronic certificates in reducing administrative approval procedures, materials, and time limits. Any information that can be obtained through electronic certificates will no longer require the provision of corresponding paper materials.

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/29280

November

On November 5, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs revised the following regulations: the Pesticide Registration Management Measures, the Pesticide Production Licensing Management Measures, the Pesticide Operating Licensing Management Measures, the Pesticide Registration Testing Management Measures, and the Pesticide Label and Instructions Management Measures. The Ministry also released the "Draft for Public Comments on Revisions to the Pesticide Registration Management Measures and Other Five Regulations."

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/29519

On November 29, 2024, the ICAMA issued a notice soliciting suggestions for the revision of national standards for pesticide residues for 2025.

http://202.127.42.126/zwb/detail/29627

December

On December 29, 2024, the Planting Industry Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued Announcement No. 868 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China. The announcement states that the Ministry has decided to implement the following control measures for two highly toxic pesticides: Aluminum phosphide and Chloropicrin.

1. Starting from March 1, 2025, the pesticide registration certificates for aluminum phosphide formulations held by enterprises other than the manufacturers of aluminum phosphide technical grade will be revoked. The registration certificates for both the technical grade and formulation products of aluminum phosphide held by the manufacturers will be retained. The aluminum phosphide formulation products produced by these manufacturers must be attached labels re-approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. These products will be limited to controlling stored grain pests and must be supplied directly by the manufacturers to grain storage enterprises or specialized pest control service organizations that meet the safety requirements for use. They shall only be used by professional technicians who are familiar with the application methods and safety precautions.
2. Starting from March 1, 2025, the chloropicrin formulation products produced by manufacturers must bear pesticide labels re-approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The use scope and application methods will be restricted to soil fumigation only, and the products must be supplied directly by the manufacturers to specialized pest control service organizations. These products shall only be used by professional technicians who are familiar with the application methods and safety precautions.
3. Chloropicrin and aluminum phosphide formulation products that have entered the market before February 28, 2025, may continue to be sold within their validity period. However, they should be used under the guidance of professional technicians.　

http://www.moa.gov.cn/govpublic/ZZYGLS/202501/t20250102_6468785.htm

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