On 22 Nov 2016, Mexican Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) released the “List of biochemical, microbial, botanical and miscellaneous pesticides recognized as low risk”. A total of 62 biopesticides are included into the list, of which 33 are botanicals, 5 are biochemical, 19 are microbial and 5 are miscellaneous. The included biopesticides will be subject to data waiving during pesticide registration. The list was compiled under the “Regulation for the Registration, Import and Export Authorization and Export Certification of Pesticides, Plant Nutrients and Toxic and Hazardous Substances and Materials”. The regulation was revised in 2014, which requires COFEPRIS to publish the low risk bio pesticides. These low risk biopesticides are exempt from certain requirements relating to generation of toxicological, ecotoxicological and physical and chemical property data during registration. The levels of exemption available can vary depending on the originality, mechanism and nature of the biopesticide. Table1: Comparison on the Technical Data Required for the Registration of Low Risk/Non-Low Risk Biopesticides in Mexico

On 3 Nov 2016, Brazil ANVISA hosted a public hearing regarding three daft rules on toxicological evaluation, labeling and toxicological ratings of pesticides and components (adjuvants). Currently, the evaluation and classification are made under ANVISA Ordinance 3 of 1992, which is now incompatible with the technical and scientific developments made over the last 3 decades since its implementation. The proposed replacement of Ordinance 3 and the release of the latest draft rules reflect the desire of Brazilian authorities to align its national standards with global best practices and the current state of the art. In addition to the new data requirements and criterion, the adoption of GHS is one of the major innovations in the new drafts. Data Waiving and Prioritization The drafts emphasize administrative and data requirements for toxicological evaluation of technical product, formulated products and components and offer clear criteria for data waiving and prioritization of certain products: The toxicological study report of biological products can be replaced by relevant scientific literature or studies conducted by public or private research institutions demonstrating adequate safety If the technical product or component has been evaluated/registered with another Brazilian authority which has similar measures and criterion on toxicological evaluation, the results can be used during ANVISA’s evaluation The analysis of low toxicity products (non-skin sensitization, non-skin/eye corrosive/irritating, non-carcinogenicity, non-mutagenicity, non-teratogenic and non-endocrine disruption) will be expedited and prioritized by ANVISA and biological agent, semi -chemicals and microbiological products will be generally considered as low toxicity products. Applicants may apply for the prioritization exclusively through electronic submission; Negative List of Pesticide Components A list of components subject to toxicological evaluation will

On 28 Nov 2016, China ICAMA released an announcement opening three draft guidelines on pesticide residue study to public consultation and will solicit public opinion until 12 Nov. The guidelines include:

On 23 Sep 2016, China ICAMA released 6 draft guidelines for pesticide environmental risk assessment and will solicit public opinion until 23 Oct. All guidelines are compiled as agricultural standards including: 3 test guidelines to assess pesticide environmental behavior and impact 2 guidelines on the validation, calculation and determination of degradation kinetics in environmental medium 1 consolidated guidance on the pesticide risk to soil organisms.

On 7 Sep 2016, China MoA issued Announcement 2445 to terminate the domestic use of 2,4-D butylate, paraquat dicofol as well as restriction of flubendiamide and 4 other active ingredients.

On 31 Aug 2016, China MoA issued Announcement 2443 regarding the GLP accreditation of testing facilities for pesticide registration. 12 laboratories were newly approved, 9 existing GLP labs were approved for expanded study scope and 5 labs were approved for name change.

On 29 Aug 2016, Brazil ANVISA published Resolution 2297 on the Official Gazette to cancel the approval of methyl parathion pesticides from the 1st of Sep 2016.