The acreage of arable land assigned to rice cultivation in China now exceeds 33 million hectare. Almost 50% of the total volume is subject to serious threats from weeds. The most significant threats in China are represented by: gramineous weeds (18 varieties), cyperaceae weeds (21), broadleaved weeds (81) and algae weeds (3).

China pesticide exports rose by 8.4% to some 8.523 Billion USD in 2013, according to figures compiled by the Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, MoA (China ICAMA). That compares with exports totaling some 7.86 Billion USD in 2012. Though imports jumped by 23% to 698 million USD, China still maintains a considerable trade surplus of 7.8 Billion USD in the pesticide sector.

On 3 Mar 2014, AQSIQ issued Announcement 19 of 2014 to revise the “Implementing Rules of Manufacturing License on Pesticide”, an important implementation rules for AQSIQ’s enforcement of production license for pesticide producers. Four formulation types and 14 product varieties were newly include into AQSIQ’s regulatory scope.

On the 4th of Mar. 2014, China ICAMA hosted a working session in Yinchuan to outline the 2014 working schedule and roadmap of pesticide management. The meeting was attended by over 100 provincial level administrative officials.On the 4th of Mar. 2014, China ICAMA hosted a working session in Yinchuan to outline the 2014 working schedule and roadmap of pesticide management. The meeting was attended by over 100 provincial level administrative officials.

In terms of annual crop production volume, China is the world’s sixth largest producer. China uses almost 200 GM cotton varieties accounting for 80% of gross cotton production. Expressed in financial terms this accounts for an annual turnover of 44 billion CNY. In 2006, transgenic breeding was given a major green light when it was given priority status in the “National Plan for Long- and Medium-Term Scientific and Technological Development.” Following on from this the state council initiated a major program in July 2008. In accordance with its priority status the state council outlined in, “Several Opinions on Promotion of Biological Industry”, that development of the biotechnology industry be a target for national investment. In 2010 the state council issued the “central file no.1” which detailed the functional elements of its plans to prioritize biotechnological development specifically GM crop R&D. Detailed in this document were the specifics regarding protection of intellectual property and a patent protection for genetic material and functional genes. These major milestones paved the way for the development and utilization of GMO technologies in China. China has IP rights on significant technologies and on some important genes involved in virus-resistance, herbicide-tolerance, cold tolerance and nutritional enrichment. China can also boast significant development in both basic and applied researched on cotton, rice and maize. General Introduction In China, activities such as R&D, experimentation, production, processing and import & export of agricultural GMOs are managed by the government. In Chinese legislation GMOs refer to genetically modified animals, plant and microorganism used in the agricultural production and agricultural product processing: Transgenic plant (seed, breeding poultry, breeding stock ) and transgenic microorganism; Transgenic plant and microorganism product; Produ

On March 1 2014, the industrial standard, “HG T4576-2013-Limitation of Harmful Solvents for Emulsifiable Concentrates Pesticide Preparations” became effective.

China National Agricultural Technology Extension and Service Center (NATESC) released results of a study investigating brown rice planthopper’s resistance to Buprofenzin. The study revealed that the insect has developed “high” or "extremely high” resistance to Buprofenzin. NATESC also advised that the insecticide may no longer be suitable for protecting rice against brown planthopper.

According to the Agricultural and Rural Commission of the National People’s Congress, the Ministry of Agricultural is to address fertilizer regulations and is currently engaged in cross sector talks with relevant ministries and governmental bodies.

The rat race has forced China to upgrade its portfolio with new molecules and technology. Since 7th FYP (from 1985 to 1989), 50 new active ingredients have been developed by Chinese institutes or pesticide companies, which included 14 insecticides, 25 fungicides, 8 herbicides and 3 plant growth regulators. The name, category, inventor, patent and registration status and producer of these new active ingredients are summarized in the table below:

On Jan 24 2014, China MEP announced that the “Comprehensive Catalog for Environmental Protection (2013)” was compiled and circulated among 13 departments. 49 pesticides were listed as the “Dual High” products, including imidacloprid, atrazine, abamectin and other export-oriented products.