Summary: On 11 May, as part of efforts to standardise the production, operation and utilisation of pesticides, MARA issued the Notice of Enhancing Supervision and Inspection of Pesticides.

As part of efforts to standardise the production, operation and utilisation of pesticides, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China (MARA) issued the Notice of Enhancing Supervision and Inspection of Pesticides on 11 May, and details are as follows:

Diminish and prevent the risk of utilising pesticides: Efforts are urged to conduct inspection oriented toward people's pesticide production licenses and business licenses, ramp up the initial examination and approval procedures of pesticide registration, strengtnen the administrative law enforcement and extend guidance of pesticide utilisation in accordance with laws. Meanwhile, aiming to screen out hidden dangers arising from the risk of pesticide application, measures will be taken to reinforce the supervision of production, operation, utilisation and registration of pesticides on a regular schedule.

Enhance regulation of pesticide-producing and -operating enterprises and online pesticide-selling platform:

• Advancement is expected in carrying out inspection targeting pesticide-TC- and paraquat-producing enterprises and hazardous-chemicals-producing-and-processing enterprises and limiting the number of pesticide-selling enterprises, pests & diseases prevention and control organization, farmers utilising aluminium phosphide for fumigating grain storage, service group utilising chloropicrin for fumigating soil and pesticide registration laboratory. Moreover, local governments are encouraged to resolutely investigate and take stern actions in accordance with laws against any suspected illegal activities;
• The pesticide business license is essential for running online pesticide-selling stores, and that should be placed in a prominent position on the website. In addition, the pesticide products sold to customers must be granted approval by local governments. Active actions should be taken to standardise the review mechanism targeting pesticide operators in e-commerce platforms, including Pinduoduo, Taobao, TikTok, Kuaishou, Wechat, Tmall, JD and YIMUTIAN.

 

Rule out illegal use of pesticides: The over-range, -dose and -time-limit application of pesticides is prohibited. Furthermore, in pursuit of low pesticide residue, strict punishments should be imposed on illicit activities regarding the use of banned, high-toxicity, limited-use and unregistered pesticides in vegetable, fruit, tea, traditional Chinese medicinal herb and edible fungus production bases.