On July 27 2013, the MoA circulated two lists regarding the distribution of agricultural pests in different administration areas. Both the “National Distribution Directory of Agricultural Phytosanitary Pests within Administrative Areas (2012)” and the “National Directory of Provincial Administrative Area Burst with Agricultural Phytosanitary Pests (2012)” were compiled under the “Regulation of Plant Quarantine” and the survey of the agricultural pests in China.

 After EU’s restriction on three neonicotinoid pesticides which are believed to harm bees, China adds on its concern on the restriction on neonicotinoids as well. On 1 July 2013, dozens of experts have been summoned up by ICAMA to discuss the future control initiatives upon neonicotinoid insecticides.

It is reported that the glyphosate manufacturing companies in Zhejiang are investigated by the public security department for the environmental crime and the manufacturers of glyphosate TC in Zhejiang are currently off production. Wynca and Jinfanda were reported of having sneakily discharged the glyphosate pollutants into the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal through a chemical warehousing and transporting company.

On 5 June 2013, China’s MoA issued a notice to its provincial subordinates and associated testing facilities that pesticide manufacturers will be subject to randomized special quality testing. ICAMA will send appropriate personnel and take samples of products from the subject companies.

On May 24 2013, the MIIT issued a notice that the approvals for pesticide of several arsenic pesticide products have been revoked due to their inclusion into the elimination list.

On May 21 2013, the MEP issued a notice to its subordinates, the affected industry associations and the glyphosateTC (PMIDA) manufacturing companies that environmental verification is to be imposed on all the manufacturers in the next three years and the name lists of compliant manufacturers will be compiled for public reference.

Though bromomethane used to be one of the most widely used fumigant around the world, it is destined to be eliminated due to its ozone-depleting properties. China has promised to ban its use in agricultural, tobacco production and grains by Jan 1, 2015, which will be almost ten years after many other developed countries. It is still unclear which fumigant will fill the market gap after the removal of bromomethane, which once accounted for a quarter of global sales.

On May 16 2013, the ICAMA circulated a notice to the concerned labs that they will be proficiency tested. The testing facilities of environmental study for pesticide registration are asked to perform test items on unknown samples and submit the test report to ICAMA. ICAMA will check the report and evaluate whether these facilities are capable of obtaining accurate data for pesticide registration.

China owns about 2.11 million hectares of tea plantation and the yield has reached 1.62 million tons in 2011. As an important cash crop, the residue problems caused by tea protection products are threatening China’s tea exportation and public health.

On April 24 2013, the MoA issued a notice to the provincial subordinates that a new round of qualification review on pesticide registration labs will be carried out. The testing facilities of efficacy, residue and environmental effect are required to submit their paper application materials to the MoA’s Department of Plantation Management and the ICAMA.