Brazil’s MAPA publishes rules to expand registration of biological pesticides

By Leonardo Gottems, Reporter for AgroPages

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) published four new “Reference Specifications” (ER), which are the rules that guide the registration of new crop protection products. 

These regulations will facilitate and expand the possibility of registering new phytosanitary products and biological agents for agriculture by different companies.

“The reference specifications serve as a 'cake recipe' to be followed by companies interested in registering phytosanitary products authorized for use in organic agriculture. Registration requests that follow the parameters described in the reference specifications are prioritized, analyzed and approved in less than six months,” said Bruno Breitenbach (General Coordinator of Pesticides and Related Products of the Map).

One of these specifications, ER 44, includes, as a biological control agent, the parasitoid wasp, Neochrysocharis formosa, which can now be used to control the larva, Liriomyza sativae. There was previously no reference specifications in Brazil related to biological agents targeting this pest.

Two other new targets of the specifications were also included, the red palm mite (Raoiella indica) and the white mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus). These pests were highlighted in ER 45, and biological control can be done with the predatory mite, Neoseiulus barkeri.

Another predatory mite, Neoseiulus idaeus, was indicated in ER 46 as an option for controlling the striped mite (Tetranychus urticae), which is responsible for considerable damage to many cultures.

MICROBIOLOGICAL

According to ER 47, the fungus, Trichoderma harzianum (isolated IB19/17), was recommended as a microbiological agent for controlling the fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which causes white mold disease that now has more than 40 options in terms of authorized products, as well as for expanding the registration of products with different formulations.

In addition to the four new reference specifications, three more were republished with updates related to offering more control alternatives, including more biological and macrobiological agents, as well as allowed ingredients and the possibility of new formulations.