In 2015, China launched the “action plan for zero-growth of agrochemical uses by 2020”, aimed to increase agrochemical utilization efficiency to 40% by 2020. In a MoARA press release on January 19, 2021, the scientific measurement shows that the current efficiency is 40.2% for chemical fertilizers and 40.6% for pesticides used on 3 major food crops including rice, wheat, and maize. The Ministry also summarized the achievements with substantive data, reflecting substantial changes in China’s crop protection and fertilization sectors，as well as disclosed a new goal of increasing the efficiency by another 3 percent by 2025.

On December 28, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs issued Announcement 379 to approve 6 newpesticides of Broflanilide, Quinotrione and Allantoin.

On December 31, 2020, the Chinese National Health Commission（NHC） issue an announcement regarding the hygiene and safety evaluation of low-temperature use disinfectants, aimed to address the continuous covid-19 contamination detected in cold-chain items and scattered cases reported as temperatures decrease. The low-temperature use disinfectants are now specified with definite efficacy and stability test conditions distinct from normal use disinfectants.

On November 11, 2020, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the State Standardization Administration jointly issue the national standard,” GB38598-2020 General Requirement for Label and Instruction Book of Disinfection Products”, which will be mandatorily implemented starting from December 1, 2021.

On December 25, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued the national standard，“GB 39727-2020 Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Pesticide Industry”, which will mandatorily take effect on January 1, 2021.

On 16 December 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs (MoARA) solicits opinion on draft measures for the import and export surveillance of pesticides, aimed to optimized administrative procedures and facilitate trade. The most remarkable change of this move is the paperless operation of customs clearance: once the pesticide exporter/importer obtained the electric import/export notice through the Chinese International Trade Single Window(Single Window), the customs will release the cargo without collecting paper documents.

The Chinese Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs has recently launched the online filing system for 7 types of chemical fertilizers, namely water-soluble fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, water-soluble fertilizer containing calcium and magnesium, water-soluble fertilizer containing calcium and magnesium, magnesium-potassium chloride for agriculture use, magnesium-potassium sulfate for agriculture use, compound fertilizer (complex fertilizer) and bulk blending fertilizer.

The number of the macronutrient Water-soluble fertilizers has grown to 3600, taking up almost 15% of fertilizers registered with MoARA and their uneven quality performance became increasingly comparable with China’s current agricultural strategy of quality enhancement and agrochemical use reduction.

On September 13, 2020, the Chinese State Council issued a resolution regarding the abolishment and decentralization of administrative matters. The registration experimentation of new pesticides and registration of 7 chemical fertilizers will be reduced from pre-event approval to filing formality.

On September 3, 2020, the Chinese National Health Commission displayed the amendment to the pending mandatory standard, “GB 388750-2020 Lists of Material and Restricted Substances in Disinfectants”, which is due to take effect on November 1, 2020.