Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issues five supportive measures for biogenic pesticides development and application

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA) posted a message on July 28, 2021, concerning the release of a series of policies that have been formulated and implemented by the MARA, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance, to support biogenic pesticide promotion and application, as well as encourage research and innovation activities of manufacturers. 

1. Preferential use of biogenic pesticides in pest prevention and control 

The central government’s disaster relief funds for major pest control and purchase subsidies for agricultural machinery will be provided as a priority to crop protection organizations for procurement and implementation of biogenic pesticides, to gradually increase the proportion of biogenic pesticide applications. According to statistics, the coverage rate of the three major food crops by unified control solutions reached 41.9% in 2020, 8.9% higher than in 2015.  

2. Promotion of biogenic pesticide application in fruit, tea and vegetable plants 

In major fruit, tea and vegetable production regions, green prevention and control demonstration is carried out, focusing on the use of biogenic pesticides. According to statistics, the coverage rate of green prevention and control for major crops in China reached 41.5% in 2020, 18.5% higher than in 2015.  

3. Subsidies for biogenic pesticide use

Over the past years, the MARA has made arrangements for demonstrative applications of high-efficient but low-toxic chemical pesticides and biogenic pesticides in regions producing major horticultural crops, such as vegetables, fruits and tea plants, having also explored the proper subsidy model and promotion mechanism to support the green prevention and control initiatives. Meanwhile, with the spending of the central government’s disaster relief funds for major disease control, the MARA has extended its support to crop protection service providers and for farmers’ biogenic pesticide use. 

4. Improvement of biogenic pesticide registration policy 

The MARA has formulated the registration data requirement for biogenic pesticides, such as microbial pesticides and botanical pesticides. Under the precondition of being safe and effective, the testing of items and the time taken can be reduced, depending on the characteristics of different biogenic pesticides. This has proved very encouraging to manufacturers’ research, development and registration for their high-efficient and low-risk biogenic pesticides. In 2020, the MARA implemented a green-channel pesticide registration process, having included bio-pesticides in this process where priority is given to products that meet the requirement to speed up their registration process. 

5. Encouragement to enterprises for innovative research and development of biogenic pesticides

To encourage innovation, research and development, the Chinese government has released a series of preferential tax policies, such as 75% additional deduction of tax on corporate research and development expenses; 100% additional deducted of tax on manufacturing enterprises; income tax on certified high-tech enterprises is only 15%; the tax loss carry-forward of high-tech enterprises and technology-based SMEs has been extended from five to ten years; the corporate income tax on revenue below RMB5 million from the technical transfer is exempt, while for revenue above RMB5 million, such income tax is paid only at half; a one-off pre-tax deduction of equipment or tools newly procured no more than RMB5 million is allowed. 

This year, the central government has stepped up its support, arranging RMB2.5 billion as a fund to support environment-friendly practices in more than 300 counties, where biogenic pesticides are regarded as one of the key technologies to promote and improve crop yield and quality on a large scale.  

Next, the MARA , together with the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance, will research support policies related to biogenic pesticide R&D, and continue to provide support to product registration, demonstration and promotion, priority use of biogenic pesticides on superior fruit, vegetable and tea plantations as well as by the unified control solution providers to drive the biogenic pesticides widely applied by farmers. The MARA is prepared to scientifically formulate its 14th Five-Year Plan of Pesticide Industry Development, which will focus on biogenic pesticides in this development, where priority will be given to biogenic pesticide-related industry deployment, green production and technical innovation, to promote transformation and upgrading of the pesticide industry and sustainable agriculture. 

Moreover, the MARA has prioritized the management of high-toxic and high-risk pesticides. In recent years, regulations have been implemented to prohibit the use of 46 high-toxic and high-risk pesticides, restrict 20 high-toxic and high-risk pesticides. The existing high-toxic and high-risk pesticides in the market can be sold in an assigned place, ordered with buyer’s ID registered, managed with traceability etc., to speed up the phaseout of high-toxic pesticides and promotion of biogenic pesticide applications. According to the arrangement made by the central government, the existing 10 high-toxic pesticides will be phased out by the end of 2024.

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