Chinese Ministry of Agriculture to ban or restrict 8 pesticides

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture recently announced the following measures against eight pesticides, including 2,4-D butyl ester and paraquat:

1. Field trials, registration applications, and registration extensions of 2,4-D butyl ester can no longer be approved or undertaken.

2. Registration applications and extensions for dicofol can no longer be approved or undertaken; from July 1, 2018, the use and sales of dicofol are prohibited in China.

3. The toxicity of paraquat has been raised to “highly toxic”; paraquat field trials and registration applications shall no longer be accepted. Apart from the technical concentrate registration for export, paraquat registration extension applications shall no longer be accepted.

4. Flubendiamide registration for rice applications has been cancelled; from July 1, 2018, the use of flubendiamide in paddy rice is prohibited.

5. Carbofuran, phorate, and isofenphos-methyl registrations for sugarcane applications have been cancelled; from July 1, 2018, the use of any of these in sugarcane is prohibited.

6. Products containing aluminium phosphide must be sold in air-tight double-layered containers or bags to prevent the ingredients from leaking. The containers or bags must have warning labels.