In June 2013, China glyphosate production stood at 50,800 tons, down by 4% from previous month due to MEP’s newly enacted measures and periodic overhaul among the manufacturing sites. The current price topped 40,000 Yuan ($6,524 at current exchange rates) per ton last week and most of the Chinese producers have suspended quotation offers.The price is expected to continue to rise due to a deliberate supply shortage. 

On Jul 23, 2013, ICAMA invited peer review on the risk assessment report of fly coil incense products. After a briefing on the findings of the assessment conducted by the working group, the experts agreed to adopt the risk assessment report when granting ICAMA registration.

On Jul 2, 0213, China AQSIQ released the Announcement 83 of 2013 to control the use of fumigant in overseas grain carriers. The measures were formulated to protect the field staff of the entry port and prevent food contaminations caused by the uses of fumigant during the transportation. The overseas cargo vessel which transport the grains into China are required to clear the fumigant residue in the ship and notify the handling of fumigant in written form, otherwise, the grain carrier will be forbidden from entering the port or the entry inspection.

During the first half of 2013, the volume and value of China’s glyphosate export have increased by 27.22% and 76.12% and the figure is still climbing. However the rat race led by the production expansion after price elevation looked more fearful to the industry. According to a recent symposium held by CCPIA, the rising price might be a short momentum as the market would soon become oversupplied by the producers. Furthermore, the industry is nervous about the recently enacted environmental verification (See ChemLinked News release on May 28 2013 ) and Wynca’s polluting case.(See ChemLinked News release on Jun 26 2013 )

Minor crops are high in value but usually not widely grown. Therefore, it is usually not profitable for private business to register the pesticide for minor crops as the low sales are insufficient to cover the cost of collecting data for pesticide registration. The situation is not only challenging China’s pesticide management but also  growth of agricultural economy.

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.

REACH24H as member of the Regulatory Toxicology and Risk Assessment Committee attended the Member Congress hosted by Chinese Society of Toxicology at 29 May, in Suzhou China. At this congress, Mr. Tao Chuanjiang from ICAMA (Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture) disclosed the recent progress and achievements in pesticide risk assessment in China through his presentation of “Development of Pesticide Environmental Risk assessment Approach in China”. In this article, I would like to outline the most significant issues addressed during this presentation. Pesticide regulations addressing safety considers from a dual perspective, attempting to manage and control both their inherent agricultural impact and the negative impact on public health associated with their use. The Chinese regulatory system bears some similarities to the US system but lacks the overall regulatory scope of its US counterpart. The legislative foundation which the risk assessment criteria are built upon is the “Regulation on the Administration of Pesticide” which is the primary law for management of pesticide in China, and which also specifies the registration requirements of pesticide.