The Chinese Standardization Administration (SAC) has recently released the full content of 7 national standards regarding the toxicological study, storage stability test, efficacy evaluation and production management of disinfectants, all of which will be implemented on October 1, 2020.

On 23 March 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs released the Announcement 280 to designates 9 testing institutes for the regulatory study of pesticide products.

The Chinese Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs consulted on March 18, 2020 a daft list of active ingredients of biopesticides registered in China. The list includes 47 microbial ingredients, 38 biochemical ingredients and 26 botanical ingredients, which help applicants to distinguish biopesticides from chemical pesticides, as well as the effective implementation of “fast-track” registration.

In response to the tension supply of disinfectants caused by 2019 Novel Coronavirus, the National Health Commission announced on Feb. 3 that disinfectants containing alcohols, chlorines, chlorine dioxide and peroxyacetic acid can be temporarily exempted from full record-filing formality at provincial health department.

On 18 Dec 2019, the Chinese Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs issued the “Plan for the Trial Implementation of Quality Certificate of Agricultural Products Nationwide”, aimed to promote safety and correctly use of pesticides, veterinary drugs and other agricultural inputs. Indigenous growers and farmer above designated size need to issue the quality certificate prior to placing their agricultural products on the market.

On Dec 20, 2019, the Chinese Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs release the result of national supervisor and spot inspection on fertilizer during the second half of the year. The overall qualification rate was 86.9% but the qualification rate of organic fertilizer was less than 80%, mainly due to disqualified water content, organic matter content and excessive microbial contaminants.

On 17 Dec 2019, the State Administration of Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration Commission jointly issued the mandatory national standard, “GB 38400-2019 Limitation Requirements of Toxic and Harmful Substance in Fertilizers”, which will take effect on 1 Jul 2020.

On Nov 27, 2019, the South Korean Ministry of Environment announced an amendment to the “Designation of Household Chemical Products Subject to Safety Verification and Safety and Labeling Standards”. The main contents in this amendment are to prohibit microbead from household cleaning products, the production and importation of humidifier liquid that added with chemicals and natural extract substance as well as the air filter uses of 5 respiratory-inhibitive substances including Polyhexamethyleneguanidine (PHMG), ethoxyethylguanidine chloride (PGH), poly (hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride (PHMB), methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and 5-chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT). Red seal ink pads, correction liquid/tape and Fog fluid for performance use are newly designated as the product subject to safety verification and the total number of product items has increased from 35 to 38 and their safety standards are as follows: Item Prohibited Substance Restrictive Substance and Limit Red seal ink pads Arsenic, Cadmium Mercury 500 mg / kg, Lead 500 mg / kg Correction fluids and tapes Benzene, Tetrachloroethylene (TCE)   Fog fluid for performance / Ethylene Glycol 10%, Diethylene Glycol 10% The uses of water-insoluble solid plastics up to 5 micrometers in cleansers, removers, laundry detergents, bleaches and fabric softeners shall be prohibited. In addition, mercury was designated as the prohibited substance in 4 types of biocidal products including fungicides, algaecides, insect repellents and wood preservatives and the tolerance limit will be 1 mg/kg. The designation of household chemical products subject to safety verification and safety and labeling standards is an important component of Korean biocide regulation, “Law 15511-Act on the