Biostimulant includes diverse substances and microorganisms that are utilized for plant enhancement or stimulate natural processes to benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, and/or crop quality apart from its “nutrient content”. Although the term “biostimulant” has not yet been defined under any specific regulation in China, these types of products are most frequently marketed as two types of novel fertilizer: microbial fertilizers and water soluble fertilizers. As stipulated under the MoA Order 32 “Measures for the Registration Management on Fertilizer”, products fall into both categories have to be registered with the MoA prior to placement on the market.   Product under Fertilizer Registration Depending on the nature, nutrient element, origin, production process, mechanism, function and availability of official product specification, analytical method of nutrient/functional ingredient, criterion for efficacy evaluation and other considerations, products subject to fertilizer registration should be registered, labeled and marketed under 29 mandatorily generic names(AgroPedia:China Fertlizer Registration Overview): Types Mandatorily Generic Name Macronutrient Water-soluble fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium* Urea ammonium nitrate solution* Potassium nitrate for agricultural use Modified ammonium nitrate for agriculture* Calcium ammonium nitrate for agriculture use* Magnesium-potassium sulfate for agriculture use Magnesium-potassium chloride for agriculture use Slow-release fertilizer* Synergized nitrogen fertilizer Secondary Element Water-soluble fertilizer containing calcium and magnesium* Fertilizer containing calcium and magnesium Calcium nitrate for agricultural use Magnesium sulfate for agricultural

 China has not yet established the supporting technical guidance and standard for each type of novel fertilizer, which has made the registration review and market supervision very unpredictable and difficult. From a scientific and safety perspective registration application of novel fertilizer are rejected in the following five situations:

According to the Agricultural and Rural Commission of the National People’s Congress, the Ministry of Agricultural is to address fertilizer regulations and is currently engaged in cross sector talks with relevant ministries and governmental bodies.

The northern agricultural province Hebei has abolished the registration obligation of all fertilizers from July 1 2013. All subject fertilizer products are freely circulated in the market as long as their producers obtain necessary license and the product meets the quality standard, which would reduce the burden on the shoulder of fertilizer producers and boost the agricultural supplies within the province.

On April 22, 2013, Chinese Ministry of Agricultural announced that it has set up the 7th Expert Committee for Fertilizer Registration and the 1st plenary session of the Committee has been held in Beijing.

Recently, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has published the results of random checkings on the fertilizer products. The heads of the sub-standard companies were summoned to have a talk with AQSIQ.

On October 10th, 2012, China Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has published importing quotas of fertilizer for FY2013. Totally 13.65 million tons of fertilizer will be alloted to domestic importing companies, consisting of 3.3 million tons of urea, 6.9 million tons of DAP, and 3.45 million tons of compound fertilizer.