On the 14th of April 2015, China MEP released a draft of “Interim Measures for the Package Waste Recycling and Disposal of Pesticide” and is currently soliciting opinions from other ministerial authorities. Under the new regulation both pesticide importers and producers will be required to collect and dispose of waste pesticide packaging and other packaging waste.
The State council has outlined that the draft has been formulated to explicating detail the waste disposal regulatory obligations of pesticide enterprises and provide the general requirements for the gathering, transport, storage and disposal of all agricultural, industrial pesticides (public health products were excluded). The main requirements as articulated within the draft are:
Pesticide users should return the empty container and waste packaging to the distributor and the distributor is responsible for subsequent collection and temporary storage of this waste;
Waste materials will be ultimately returned to the pesticide producer for timely disposal. The waste storage period should not exceed 1 year;
Aluminum foil packaging and use of individual small packaging for crop protection products will be eliminated and the use of readily biodegradable plastic packaging, high volume packaging and package for the water soluble pesticide will be encouraged;
The competent authority of pesticide management under the State Council is responsible for the pesticide packaging designs used by industry, while the authorities at county level will be responsible for the supervision of production and use of pesticide packaging as well as recycling, transportation, storage and disposal of the packaging waste;
A traceability system for recycling and disposal of pesticide packaging waste will also be implemented;
Pesticide manufacturers, importers and distributors who fail to comply with their packaging waste disposal duties will have their pesticide registration, production permit or business license revoked. The draft will be available for consultation until 8 May.
