Adding unregistered AIs to pesticide formulations is still very common in China, according to the result of the third pesticide supervision and inspection of 2011 released by the Ministry of Agriculture recently. Chlorantraniliprole and terbufos are the popular AIs added to illegal pesticides, according to CCM International’s March issue of Insecticides China News.
The quality of 2,633 samples was tested during the supervision and inspection, 2,319 of which are qualified, with a qualified rate of 88.1%. Among the total, 1,685 insecticides were tested and 87.1% are qualified; 536 fungicides were tested and the qualified rate reaches 87.9%; 400 herbicides were tested and the qualified rate comes to 92.3%.
Among the 314 unqualified products, 70 contain unregistered AIs. For example, the product registered is 5% chlorpyrifos EC, but it actually contains terbufos or other AIs. It is worthwhile to note that the AIs added to 68 products are all insecticides except that two products contain atrazine.
Highly toxic insecticides such as terbufos, carbonfuran, methomyl, phorate and endosulfan are popular AIs added to illegal pesticides. Among them, terbufos is the most popular, illegally added to 12 insecticides. Terbufos was widely used to control soil insects in peanut field and sugar cane field. China stopped the registration of it years ago but approved four formal registrations of terbufos (two for technical and two for formulations) in early 2011, which stunned domestic pesticide industry. However, months later, the government decided to repeal the registrations of 10 pesticides, including terbufos.
Overseas companies' property products are also popular AIs added to illegal pesticides. Chlorantraniliprole, one of the most hottest insecticides in domestic market that developed by DuPont, was added to three products, namely 5% acetamiprid EC, 4% abamectin-aminomethyl·lambda-cyhalothrin ME and 8,000IU bacillus thuringiensis/μl SC. The chlorantraniliprole contents in these three products hit 3.9%, 5.3% and 11.6% respectively.
Chinese government has strengthened the supervision and guidance of domestic pesticide formulation market in recent years. Overseas companies have also intensified the crackdown on the illegal production of their property products. However, adding unregistered AIs, especially highly toxic ones or property products, to pesticide formulations is still quite common in China.
"Many pesticide formulations marketed in Guangdong contain other AIs that are not registered under the product. It is very normal," said a pesticide retailer in the province.
What's more, some retailers and companies even take adding unregistered AIs as a selling point of their products. They tell farmers what kind of AI has been added, aiming to promote their products.
There are several reasons for the popularity of adding unregistered AI in China.
Firstly, backward consumption habit by domestic farmers. Domestic farmers usually prefer products that can kill insects rapidly but care less about the toxicity. They also prefer broad-spectrum products. To cater for the need of farmers, some companies add some highly toxic AIs to their products, because these AIs usually act quickly and are broad-spectrum.
Secondly, weak R&D of domestic companies. Overseas companies have introduced many good products into domestic market and have made great success. However, domestic companies are weak in R&D and the chance is slim for them to develop a property product. To get a slice of the cake, some domestic companies illegally add property products to their products. They tell farmers what their products contain (illegally added AIs) and sell them at a high price, gaining a fat profit.
Thirdly, unaffordable registration cost for some small companies. At present, the cost of registering one product is about USD80,000, which is too high for some small companies. Some of them add unregistered AIs to their old products to develop new market.
Besides, the punishment is not strong enough, so many companies try to test the law.
It is estimated that adding unregistered AIs will still be common in domestic market in the near future. However, this situation should change for the health development of China's pesticide industry. Insiders recently revealed that the government is making regulations that contain more harsh punishments for adding unregistered AIs.
Source: Insecticides China News 1203
http://www.cnchemicals.com/Newsletter/NewsletterDetail_1.html
Main content of Insecticides China News 1203:
Chlorantraniliprole and terbufos liked by illegal products
Application for formal registration of 3 insecticides approved
Overview of China's insecticide registration in 2011
New registraions in 2011 reflects thiacloprid's bright outlook
Sinochem International to become second largest shareholder of Yangnong Group
Hebei Veyong incurs 63.07% decline in 2011 net profit
Jiangsu Kwin kicks off technical production line relocation
Wuhan WDLZ's insect virus insecticide project passes EIA
Shenzhen Noposion to market spinosad
Dinotefuran shows potential in China
Jiangsu Huifeng launches 1,000t/a bifenthrin technical production
Jiangsu Lanfeng launches 8,000t/a acephate project
Overview of China's methomyl export in 2011
Cold weather reduces market demand for insecticides
… …
Insecticides China News, a monthly publication issued by CCM International on 10th of every month, provides the latest and influential analysis on insecticide industry for you, including company dynamics, supply and demand, price analysis, policy, raw material and intermediate.
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