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Brazil's Agriculture official stresses reducing time of agchem evaluation‏

"Agriculture minister Kátia Abreu is very sensitive to the issue involving agrochemicals in Brazil". The word was given by Dr. Luis Eduardo Pacifici Rangel, director of the Plant Health unit at the ministry in his presentation at the Brazil Agrochem Show 2015.

The director recognizes "the regulatory complexity" of the Brazilian market, which involves the action of three different agencies, besides the ministry itself. He says that these procedures could not be changed overnight. However, Rangel affirms that the minister intends to "boost efficiency" - mainly on public agencies.

About the possibility of reducing the time of evaluation and product registration, he affirms that "it is very difficult to stipulate deadline, but the revision of the concept of efficiency will necessarily shrink deadlines. The registration is the only barrier of entrance in the Brazilian market. Therefore, we are relying on local studies and calling international experts to help in this optimization".

According to him, one of the most important initiatives is the restructuring of Plant Health Committee of Southern Cone. Brazil, in partnership with Paraguay, intends to harmonize the registration of phytosanitary products at the Mercosur scope, a bloc which also gathers Argentina and Uruguay, besides the presence of other countries in South America in the condition of Associate States.

"Obviously, nothing will be done abruptly. All of the public policies will be discussed and will have the collaboration of stakeholders of the sector. What we will not allow is the current situation in which plagues squander our major crops," said Rangel.