China approved 474 pesticides during the first half of 2020, of which 445 are agricultural pesticides and 29 are hygiene pesticides, representing a bounce back from H1 2019 of only 99 pesticides. The number of pesticides approved down sharply in 2019 due to the new data requirement enacted. It is unlikely to see a return to the heady numbers in 2017 and 2018.

Herbicide obtained 172 approval and became the most registered category, followed by fungicide(113), insecticide(93) and plant growth regulator(33). A total of 34 types of formulations were registered and the most frequently registered formulation type was suspension concentrate (116), emailable concentrate (67), soluble liquid (47), oil-based suspension concentrate(47) and granules(35).

The top 5 most frequently registered active ingredients were Pyraclostrobin, Clothianidin, Thiamethoxam, Metamifop and fludioxonil. Thiamethoxam(10), Clothianidin(8), Thiamethoxam(8), Metamifop(8) were most frequently used in single-element formulations while the most welcomed combinations in multi-element formulations were Cyhalofop-butyl and Metamifop mixtures(9), Etoxazole and Bifenazate mixtures(5) and mixtures of Fluoroglycofen-ethyl and Glufosinate(5).

445 agricultural pesticides were approved for uses on over 70 crops and the main focuses were paddy, citrus and wheat.

17 biochemical pesticides, 7 microbial pesticides and 1 botanical pesticide were approved, a slight increase from 2019 of just 22 biopesticides.