Summary: In recent years, the ICAMA has
investigated the production, sales and application of carbofuran in the
domestic market, and has carried out registration re-appraisals on this
product. Some industry insiders expressed concern about carbofuran's market
prospects and forecasted that the usage of carbofuran will be further forbidden
or limited.
Carbofuran has relative good efficacy in
preventing and controlling nematodes and soil pests, and is used widely in
China. Carbofuran is also a highly toxic pesticide and is one of the forbidden
or limited pesticides in China. However, no perfect substitute for carbofuran
is available. Carbofuran will either be further forbidden or have its usage
limited in the future.
Industry insiders revealed that the
Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture (ICAMA)
intended to carry out registration re-appraisals on carbofuran and carbosulfan
and to evaluate the registrations and applications of carbofuran and relevant
products. On 23 March, 2015, the Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals,
Jiangsu Province conducted an investigation on the production, sales,
application and registration of highly toxic pesticides, like carbofuran and
methomyl, in Jiangsu Changlong Agrochemicals Co., Ltd. ICAMA has investigated
the production, application and risk monitoring of carbofuran and carbosulfan
in Hunan Province, Jiangsu Province, Shandong Province and other provinces. It
solicited opinions from government departments and pesticide enterprises.
Some industry insiders were worried about carbofuran's
market prospects and forecasted that carbofuran will be forbidden or will have its usage limited
further. Experts like Huang Mingzhi, General Manager of Hunan Haili Chemical
Industry Co., Ltd., Professor Zhang Yibing from Shanghai Pesticide Research
Institute, Fang Zuyan, a representative from Hainan Sanya Nanbo Fruit &
Vegetable Technical Extension and Service Department, also have concerns about
carbofuran's market prospects and suggest that carbofuran should not be
forbidden from being used, especially without better options, and that proper
usage should be encouraged because proper usage prevents pesticide residue.
China has enacted policies to prohibit or
restrict the application of carbofuran on some crops:
On 22 April, 2002, the Ministry of
Agriculture of the People's Republic of China (MOA) released the No. 194
announcement which stated that the registration of carbofuran for application
on citrus trees was revoked starting from 1 June, 2002. This includes mixed
formulations.
On 5 June, 2002, the MOA released the No.
194 announcement which stated that carbofuran was forbidden from being used on
vegetables, fruit trees, tea and Chinese herbs.
Starting from 1 July, 2007, carbofuran was
permitted for seed treatment, groove fertilization or for use on toxic soil
provided that gloves are worn, but not for spraying.
On 15 June, 2011, the MOA, the Ministry of
Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China, the
Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China, State
Administration for Industry & Commerce of the People's Republic of China,
the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of
the People's Republic of China, jointly published the No. 586 announcement,
ordering departments to stop accepting new applications for field trials,
registrations and production permits of carbofuran, and to stop approving new
registration certificates and production licenses of carbofuran.
At present, carbofuran is still one of the
most consumed insecticides in China. As of 1 April, 2015, the number of valid
carbofuran registrations was 184 in total in China, including 8 TC, 2 TK and
171 formulations, according to the ICAMA. Specifically, 3% carbofuran GR is
used to combat soil pests; the carbofuran formulations are BS and are often
mixed with other fungicides like thiophanate-methyl and thiram. Carbofuran
formulations are approved for use on wheat, rice, corn, soybean, peanut,
cotton, sugar cane and sugar beet.
The main carbofuran manufacturers in China
are Hunan Haili Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Hunan Guofa Fine Chemical
Technology Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Changlong Agrochemicals Co., Ltd. and Hubei
Sanonda (Jingzhou) Pesticide Chemical Co., Ltd. Over half of the domestically
produced carbofuran TC are for exports.
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