China is one of the most seriously weeds-harmed countries and mainly relies on chemical pesticides for weed control, i.e., herbicides. This article is an analysis of herbicide registration in China, in two parts: Statistics in 2015-2022, and Updated Regulations, Policy, and New Herbicides in 2022.

Contents

Statistics of Herbicide Registration in 2015-2022

• Overview

• Statistics of Registered Pesticides

Updated Regulations, Policy, and New Herbicides in 2022

• Registration Requirements for Nonselective Herbicides

• Registration Requirements of Target Herbicides for Genetically Modified Herbicide-tolerant Crops

• Herbicides Newly Applied for Registration in 2021: Bixlozone & Tembotrione

Overview

The term “pesticides” usually includes pesticides, herbicides, rodenticides, antimicrobial products, biopesticides, and other substances used to control various pests or undesirable vegetation.

China is one of the most seriously weeds-harmed countries. Over 1430 species (varieties) of garden weeds are widely distributed and occur in large quantities in China. Every year, weed damage causes about 10% of crop yield loss, 60 million tons of grain output reduction, and 220-billion-yuan economic loss.

Weed control is a key concern in pesticide production in China. Herbicides can control weeds and effectively reduce crop yield losses. At present, China mainly relies on chemical pesticides for weed control, i.e., herbicides.

Statistics of Registered Pesticides

In 2015, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MOARA) put forward the action of zero growth in pesticide use, after which the demand for pesticides in China declined steadily. In 2021, the use of pesticide products was 248,000 tons, including 104,000 tons of herbicides, which accounted for 41.9% of the total amount in 2021.(See Table 1.) Under the pesticide reduction background, herbicide use increased slightly compared with previous years, proving a large market demand for herbicide products exists in China.

Table 1. Pesticide Use in 2015-2022 in 10,000 tons

As of December 31, 2021, the total number of registered pesticide products in China is more than 44,700 (including public health pesticide products), and the number of registered active ingredients is 727, of which herbicides account for 23%. And herbicides account for 26% of newly registered herbicides in 2021. Among the registered herbicide products in China, glyphosate, atrazine and acetochlor ranked top three. (See Table 2.)

Table 2. Top 20 Registered Herbicides

A total of 2,765 products (including public health pesticide products) were registered in China in 2021. Among newly registered herbicide products in 2021, the registration amount of glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium was more than 100. In recent years, the key herbicides registered in China are prominent, and the registered amount is significantly higher than that of other pesticides.

Table 3. Top 10 Herbicides Newly Registered in 2021