New pesticides guidance has been finalised that harmonises the way terrestrial field dissipation studies (TFDs) are conducted in different regions of the world. The guidance was developed for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) by a working group led by EFSA, the US Environmental Protection Agency and Health Canada.     

The US EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) and the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) have released jointly developed Residue Chemistry Data Evaluation Record (DER) templates that replace the 2001 templates. 

After Zero Growth of Pesticide Policies was issued, more and more Chinese pesticide manufacturers are trying to explore international market and achieved progress. In 2014, the total pesticide exportation volume from China to Latin America is 0.5 million tons valuing 35.8 billion USD. There are many countries in Latin America and Chinese manufacturers have covered 32 out of 34 Latin countries. The export value to top 10 countries accounts for more than 90% total export value. The well-performed manufacturers include Rainbow Chem., Fuhua Tongda, Youth Chem., Wynca, Red Sun, Ninhuang, and Jiangshan Argochem exporting more than 1 billion USD respectively.

For the past one and a half year, REACH24H Consulting Group has successfully completed the approval application of active substance under EU BPR regulation, and helped three Asia companies to be listed onto the BPR Article 95 List. These achievements have made REACH24H the only consulting group in Asia to independently accomplish the BPR registration application for new active substances. The achievements also contribute a lot to the companies’ competitiveness in the EU market and make it possible for them to compete for million dollar orders.

On 12th Dec 2014, the state-owned enterprise Sinochem International Corporation (Sinochem International) announced its purchase of a stake in several agrochemical companies owned by its parent company, the Sinochem Group. Sinochem Crop Protection Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinochem International is purported to have spent 970 million Yuan to purchase its stake in these companies. The move means all agrochemical business (except R&D) of the Sinochem Group will be consolidated under Sinochem International.

Hong Kong will implement “Regulation on Pesticide Residue in Food” on 1st August 2014. Non-compliant food commodities are not permitted to be imported, produced or sold in Hong Kong with violations subject to a fine of HKD 50,000 or 6 months custodial sentence.

China and Egypt have reached an agreement on mutual acceptance of data for pesticide registration, which will greatly facilitate the trade of agrochemicals and pesticides between the two countries.

Serving as a universal basis for international legislation, the food safety standards under the Codex Alimentarius (CAC) have far reaching implications for resolving trade disputes among the WTO members. The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residue (CCPR) is responsible of establishing, revising and revoking pesticide MRLs in food and preparing schedule of MRLs setting ( also known as the Priority Lists) for evaluations by the JMPR (Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues), which play an important role of the MRL establishment. During the development of priority lists, stakeholders engaged in fierce negotiations to protect their interests.