On 11 May 2016, Brazil National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) published a technical note to specify two exemption conditions for acute inhalation toxicity test for pesticide formulation and the applicable result for toxicological classification of pesticide. In Brazil, the inhalation toxicity data are mandatorily required for pesticide registration and the study should be performed under internationally recognized methods and the OECD test protocols most often accepted. The latest OECD Test Guideline 403-Acute Inhalation Toxicity has been appended with new procedures and parameters for lethal concentration inhalation study. ANVISA deems it is necessary to consolidate the technical reference with the requirement, acceptability and interpretation of study result to determine the endpoint.

On 23 May 2016, China Ministry of Agriculture issued the Announcement 2405 to promulgate 64 pesticide industry standards to be in force on 1 Oct 2016, of which 7 standards are firstly enacted for pesticide environmental risk assessment.

After a booming growth of pesticide import value and quantity in 2014, in 2015 Thailand pesticide importation cools down. Even though the import quantity stays similar with 2014, the total value has decreased by 21.4%. 

Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) was held at WHO Headquarters, Geneva (Switzerland), from 9 to 13 May 2016. 

On 17 May 2016, US EPA issued a proposal to approve an amended registration of sulfoxaflor. The amendment was made under the decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that the registration of sulfoxaflor in May 2013 was not supported by evidence to demonstrate its safety to bee. EPA reevaluated the data supporting the use of sulfoxaflor and proposes fewer uses and restrictions to reduce the risk to bees. EPA reviewed the amended application from Dow AgroScience to further reduce or eliminate exposure to pollinators: Restricting post-bloom for all proposed bee-attracting crops;  

On 16 May 2016, the Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) released the “Regulatory Directive DIR2016-02, Notification/Non-notification”. To simply certain minor changes to registered product, the PMRA has provided a notification/non-notification policy since 1994 and the industry and stakeholders can follow the notification or non-notification process without standard registration alteration formalities.

Last week, during the 33rd Near East and North Africa meeting hold in Roma, FAO and WHO have released new guidelines aimed at reducing the damage done by pesticides that pose especially high toxic risks to human health and the environment. 

On 9  May 2016, China MoA solicited public opinions to impose the control measure on 8 pesticides. The domestic use of 2,4-D butylate and paraquat would be phased out and the use flubendiamide on rice will be prohibited as of 1 Jul 2018. The exportation of the concerning pesticides will remain unaffected.

On 2 May 2016，the Brazil Secretariat of Agriculture Defense of MAPA(Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) issued a consultation notice on a draft normative instruction for pesticide labeling and collecting concerning information into the Plant Protect Product System-the Agrofit System.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released an updated schedule for the Pesticide Registration Review program, covering planned draft risk assessments, proposed interim decisions, and