On 30 Jan 2019, the National Health Commission published 6 voluntary hygienic standards for biocidal products, which will take effect on 1 Jul 2019. Among them, the “WS/T 650-2019 Evaluating Method for Efficacy of Antibacterial and Bacteriostasis” was firstly issued. The standard specifies 13 testing methods, procedures the application scope and criteria for commonly used items with antimicrobial claim including hand cleaner, sprays, gels, wet wipe, facial mask, sanitary towel, diaper, towel, underwear, socks, fabric, plastics, floorboards and tiles, etc. These antimicrobial products are mostly categorized as the Category II disinfection products but comparatively in a regulatory grey zone because most of them are not yet included into the pre-marketing assessment. Considering the complicacy of product type and feature, WS/T 650-2019 can be an evident progress and these commonly used antimicrobial products are likely to be brought into supervision after NHC made adequate clarification on product definition/scope, necessity of risk/safety assessment and relevant evaluation guidelines.

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.

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 25 Apr 2018, Shanghai NHC hosted an internal workshop to clarify common technical and regulatory issues which arose during the trial opening of the national electronic filing system of disinfection products. The new system collects safety assessment reports, product information and company details of all existing disinfection products. It was also revealed that a new inventory of antimicrobial ingredients is expected to be released this year which will define the scope of general household products and disinfection products. In future household products using biocidal ingredients and ambiguous efficacy labeling claims will no longer be able to evade filing or NHC's apprval requirements.

China NHC recently revealed that the amendment to the national standard, “GB 26369-2010 hygienic standard for quaternary ammonium disinfectants”, has been finalized and the revised edition has been submitted to the SAC (Standardization Administration) for final approval.

1.[EU BPR]The First opinion on Union authorization was adopted The Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) supported applications for EU-wide access to the market  of two biocidal product families containing iodine/PVP-iodine for use in veterinary hygiene on 20 December 2017. It is the first opinion supporting applications for Union authorization which means that it is realized successfully that companies are allowed to place their biocidal products on the market throughout the entire Union with one authorization form. 2.[US EPA-FIFRA]Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act (PRIA 4) will recently be updated PRIA 3 is about to expire and PRIA 4 will enable after PRIA 3 is invalid. While PRIA 3 was originally set to expire December 8, 2017, now for the duration of that Continuing Resolution period, it has been extended until January 19, 2018. When PRIA 4 is expected to be enabled, a number of new registration types, such as disinfectant devices identification, will be added, as well as additional review costs. 3.[Chinese disinfectant products] The relevant standards for relevant Chinese disinfectant products are to be issued. NHFPC (National Health and Family Planning Commission) is working to formulate or revise relevant standards for disinfection products, including the classified catalogue of disinfection products, hygienic safety evaluation, test contents, disinfecting wipes, etc. These are expected to be announced in the first half year of 2018. 4.[EU BPR]Draft guidance for identifying endocrine disruptors was issued This draft guidance for identifying endocrine disruptors which will be used to evaluate pesticides and biocides has been developed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) with the support of the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). ECHA and EFSA are inviting interested parties to comment on the draft guidance document for the identification of endocrine disruptors under EU legisl

China NHPFC has recently solicited internal comments from industry through its provincial institutes on a draft standard of the hygienic safety assessment of the Category I and Category II disinfection products. The NHFPC plans to promulgate the standard by the end of 2017, replacing the current “Provisions for the Hygienic Safety Assessment of Disinfection Products”. A comparison between the two versions reveals elevated enforceability, more defined product classification and more scientific testing requirements in the new draft.

Chinese farmers spend on average 45 CNY per ton on postharvest treatment of citrus fruits. Most of the agrochemicals used target blue mold, green mold, black rot, stem-end rot, oospora rot, anthracnose and are also used for preservative purposes. China’s annual citrus yield is over 30 million tons and is estimated to be worth as much as 1.3 billion Yuan.

The last change and development of China disinfectants management are frequent and significant. what has  happened and what's the new requirements of regulatory compliance in China? what's the most relevant issues?

On May 24 2013, the MIIT issued a notice that the approvals for pesticide of several arsenic pesticide products have been revoked due to their inclusion into the elimination list.