Rice contributes to 60% of the world’s grain supply and rice growing/consumption regions tend have the largest populations and largest economies in the world. Given the likelihood of increased global demand for rice, we can expect a concomitant increase in the paddy herbicide market, which already accounts for 40% of the plant protection products used. The paddy herbicide market is characterized by diverse combinations of active ingredients and is influenced by multiple factors such as climate, agricultural practices, and agricultural development level, national food security policies and international trade. To help readers better comprehend this niche and variable market, this analysis summarizes the scale and characteristics of rice plantation, herbicide use and market conditions in the major rice growing regions globally. The global rice growing area was 160.1 million hectares in 2016, up 0.8% year-on-year. The overall plantation area has been stable in recent years. Rice is universally planted in temperate and tropical regions and the top rice-growing country is India, followed by China, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Thailand. India was second behind China in rice output due to its moderate productivity of 2.6 ton per hectare. China is the largest and the most efficient rice producer with an annual output of 144.9 million tons and boasts a per unit output of 4.8 ton per hectare. large Plantation Area, Output adn Annual Changes in Major Rice Growing Countries in 2016 Rice price, inventory, weather condition and currency exchange rate are the major factors affecting rice plantation and paddy herbicide market. In 2016, the United States, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines have increased rice area while the plantation decreased in India, Japan, Pakistan and Brazil. Although rice price was low, the weather condition was conducive to high overall production volume in Asia. Self-sufficiency policies in Indonesia and Malaysia also he

On 25 Oct 2018, China MoARA released the 1st batch of testing institutes for pesticide registration experimentation. A total of 26 labs have been approved to conduct studies covering product chemistry, efficacy, toxicology, residue, and environmental impact.

On 12 Oct 2018, China NHC released the hygienic standard “WS 628-2018 Technical Requirements for the hygiene and safety evaluation of disinfection products”, which will be mandatorily implemented starting on the 1st of Mar 2019. The new standard includes some technical amendments to a former ministerial regulation, “Rules on the Hygienic and Safety Assessment on Disinfection Products”. Prior to marketing existing Category I and Category II disinfection products in China, producers and importers need to conduct hygiene and safety assessment and file the assessment report at provincial health departments. WS 628-2018 will be enforced in parallel with the ministerial rules. Producers and importers need to comply with the technical requirements in product testing, sample preparation and report compilation and follow the administrative requirements set forth in the rules.

In 2017, China promulgated series of new pesticide regulations and significantly raised the market threshold with added data, elevated criteria and narrowed acceptance scope. It is also the first time that MoARA will have to disclose quality standard code and testing method for registered pesticide, which constitute an important part of product chemistry data. Mr. Huang Qiliang from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences joined CRAC 2018 conference in Chengdu to summarize and compare the critical points in dossier preparation for traditional chemical pesticides and biopesticides, as well as introduce the latest official guidelines for pesticide testing and method validation.

On 23 Aug 2018, China MoARA consulted on proposed bans of 4 highly toxic insecticides: phorate, aldicarb, isocarbophos and sulfluramid.

On 6 Jun 2018, Chinese SMAR and SAC issued the Standardization Announcement 9 of 2018 to promulgate 393 national standards and 7 English translated standards, of which 5 standards are for household paper products including sanitary napkin, tissue, diaper and household paper adsorbent polymers, etc. This move is one of the achievement of the “Improvement Plan for the Standardization and Quality of Consumer Products”, aimed at boosting domestic consumer market by strengthening technology legislation for priority consumer products including maternal, child, older and handicapped supplies, household appliances, consumer electronics, household decorations, costumes and ornaments, cosmetics and household chemicals, educational and sporting goods, cultural artifact, food and its related products.

On 22 Jun 2018, China NHC revealed that the final edition of the mandatory hygienic standard “Technical Requirements for the Hygienic Safety Assessment on Disinfection Products” has been submitted to the SAC (Standardization Administration) for final approval and promulgation.

On 22 Jun 2018, China NHC, MoARA and SAMR jointly issued the Announcement 6 of 2018 to release the GB 2763.1-2018 and 8 testing methods of pesticide MRLs in food, some of which were publically consulted late last year and to be implemented on 21 Dec 2018.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are among the most widely used disinfectants in the world and are used on medical devices, common surfaces, food containers and the human body etc. To assess the risk/hazards posed by these substances the Chinese health inspection and disease control authority sampled 193 commercial QAC disinfectants (on the market since 2009) and analyzed the product origin, composition, use scope, target microbial organisms and label claims. A total of 12 imported and 181 homemade QAC disinfectants were sampled from 21 provinces, consisting of 187 liquid formulations, 5 spray formulations and 1 powdery formulation. Adherence to GB GB26369-2010 was investigated. It was revealed that benzalkoniums, DDAC and DDAB are the most common QACs and over 20% of human-use disinfectants contain excess level of QACs.  

On 31 May 2018, China MoARA invited a 30-day consultation on 576 MRLs for 118 pesticide active ingredients and 4 testing methods of pesticide residues in plant-origin food.