Brazil Registration Watch: MAPA approves halauxifen-methyl and three new biopesticides

Act No. 47 of the Department of Plant Protection and Agricultural Inputs of the Agricultural Defense Secretariat, published on 17th November in the Official Gazette, now covers 47 registered formulated pesticides, defined as products that are effectively available for use by farmers. Of these, 12 are considered low-impact or bio-based.

Of the low impact products currently registered, three are composed of new microorganisms. One is based on Trichoderma afroharzianum, authorized for controlling several fungal diseases, and two products on Chrysoperla externa, a predatory insect that is a natural enemy of various pests.

The other low toxicity products are composed of the organisms, Telenomus podisi, Bacillus thuringiensis var. isolated kurstaki, Trichoderma asperellum, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Spodoptera frugiperda baculovirus. These baculoviruses are specific caterpillar viruses, which are harmless to humans and other animals.

The other new product is a herbicide with the active ingredient, Halauxifen-methyl, used for controlling weeds in soybean crops, such as horseweed (Conyza bonariensis) and bitter grass (Digitaria insularis). This product also contains the active ingredient, Diclosulam, already authorized in the country.

“Despite being first registered in our country, the active ingredient, Halauxifen-methyl, is already widely used in several other countries, such as the United States and Australia, as well as in the European Union,” explained Marina Dourado, substitute coordinator of Pesticides and Related Products.

The other products use active ingredients previously registered in the country. The registration of generic pesticides is key to reducing market concentration and increasing competition, which will result in fairer trade and lower production costs for Brazilian agriculture.

All registered products were analyzed and approved by entities responsible for health, the environment and agriculture, according to scientific criteria and in line with the best international practices.

Biological Control Products

With the registration of these 12 products, there are already 77 pest control products of low toxicity registered in 2021, a record year for the registration of biopesticides, when 95 products of this type were registered.

“Until three years ago, most products used to control pests were of chemical origin and few were of biological origin. However, this scenario has been changing and today we can see products of biological origin gaining market share. This is demonstrated by the growing registration of low impact products for pest control,” Dourado added.

Currently, there are a total of 488 low-impact products available to producers.