New Provisions on Pesticides Defined by the Ministry of Agriculture     

The Ministry of Agriculture of China announced at the news release conference held on December 19th, 2007 that it will soon issue 6 new provisions on pesticides. "To reduce pollution to agricultural products," Wang Shouchong, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, explains, "A good management way has to be exercised on pesticides. Environment and health are not to be taken as sacrifices."
   For six consecutive years the Ministry of Agriculture has conducted spot checks of pesticide quality, pesticide label and especially pesticide residue. Such spot checks have played a significant role in guaranteeing the safety of agricultural products. 70 pesticide registration certificates were revoked from 2004 to 2007.
   "Three problems, however, remain to be addressed," said Wang Shouchong, "The first problem is that the variety of products is great. There are 622 effective ingredients and more than 23 000 varieties pesticides. The main factor for such great variety of products is temporary registration. Pesticides in many enterprises have been in the state of temporary registration for long years. The second problem is that one product has many different names. There are only more than 1 700 generic names but the number of commodity names is as great as over 10 000. The third problem is that the management of pesticide labels is not standardized." These new provisions can prevent some enterprises from increasing the price at will. The price of a product increases once it uses a new name. Only commodity names are eliminated this time and trade marks of pesticides still remain. In an environment of fair competition, enterprises can create their own brands through trade marks.
   The 6 new provisions on pesticides are as follows:
   (1) The Ministry of Agriculture doesn't make the examination and approval of new pesticide commodity names from January 1st, 2008. Pesticide commodity names will be eliminated, effective July 1st, 2008 and producers will only be allowed to use generic names and simplified generic names.
   (2) The registration threshold is moderately raised. The main purpose is to promote the reform of three measures: implement the withdrawal mechanism, raise the requirements on data sheets for temporary registration and create conditions for reducing pesticide residue and environmental pollution.
   (3) The effective duration of pesticide temporary registration certificates is shortened from 4 years to 3 years.
   (4) Products already registered need to add lab test data or comprehensive reports.
   (5) Standardized label descriptions are requested to be used.
   (6) Contents of effective ingredients in pesticides are defined.
   Besides, the same products that are already registered are not allowed to make another registration. Enterprises are encouraged to develop innovative products and increase inputs in product innovation.