Crop Protection China Monthly Report

After years of development, both the capacity and the output of pesticides in China are at the forefront in the world and China has become one of the most important producers and exporters. However, problems like unreasonable product structure, repeated construction, overcapacity and chaotic management not only have large impact on the development of pesticide industry, but also exert negative influence on food safety and the environment in China. As one of the most important factors that influences China's pesticide industry development, policies issued by the Chinese government always have great significance in guiding the whole pesticide industry.

In 2013, a series of policies were issued for pesticides, which have great effects on some fields in pesticide industry and help push forward further healthy development of this industry. For instance, the apparent increase of the price index of pesticides in 2013 can be mainly attributable to the environmental policies, which is an emphasized point in pesticide industry. And policies such as the restriction of high toxic pesticides and some other management regulations also shows progress made in pesticide industry in China.

On the whole, these policies were mainly issued to restrict or eliminate high toxic pesticides, to promote biopesticides, to enhance environment protection and to strengthen the management on pesticides. They reflect a new development trend of pesticides: to be high effective, low toxic and environmentally friendly. At the same time, there are both opportunities and challenges for Chinese pesticide enterprises. 

Although the development of biopesticides has been put in an important position, there is not any substantive supporting regulations but some encouraging policies.

Thereinto, restriction of high toxic pesticides and harmful solvents has further substantive progress. The deadlines for the withdrawal of 3 types of herbicides with long residual including metsulfuron-methyl, chlorsulfuron and ethametsulfuron from the domestic market was set in 2013; also, the substitution of toluene and dimethyl benzene solvent in EC formulations had been clearly listed, which will speed up substitution work for EC formulation in China.

Some regulations for minor crops and the establishment of pesticide container recycling system have also been issued, which are conducive to operation and management in China's pesticide industry.