India Pesticide Registration Dynamics in Q1 2024: Natco obtains the first local registration of cyantraniliprole technical; pydiflumetofen product debuts in India

Editor’s note: In India, the registration and approval of pesticides are essential to safe and sustainable agricultural development. In the first three months of 2024, the Indian Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIBRC) held its 453rd and 454th meetings, during which a total of 80 active ingredient registrations and 21 formulation registrations were approved, injecting new vitality into the market. During this quarter, the grant of registration of the two highly effective products, cyantraniliprole, and pydiflumetofen, is not only an enrichment of the product line on the Indian pesticide market but is also an indicator of future market trends.

• Technical Registrations

In this quarter, a total of 80 technical registrations involving 69 products were approved.

In terms of the number/proportion of registrations of product varieties, sulfentrazone and tembotrione were leading the registrations in this quarter, both accounting for 5% (4 registrations). Among the registrations, the sulfentrazone registrants include New Pack Agro Chem, Agro Life Science Corporation (ALSC), Insecticides (India) and Indogulf Cropsciences; the tembotrione registrants include GSP Crop Science, Meenakshi Agro Chemicals, Ichiban Crop Science and Meghmani Industries. The chlorantraniliprole registrants involved three companies, which show a strong market demand.

In terms of the performance of companies, Heranba Industries Ltd and Ichiban Crop Science Ltd performed very well, each being granted 6 technical registrations.

• Formulation Registrations

In this quarter, a total of 21 formulation registrations were granted involving 32 products, where pymetrozine and chlorantraniliprole topped the registrations, both accounting for 7.5% (3 registrations). The other popular ingredients include fomesafen, fipronil, mancozeb and tebuconazole, which altogether accounted for 5% of registrations. The registration of these formulations not only enriches the product line on the market, but also provides farmers with more prevention and control options.

• First-time registration - Natco becomes the first local company in India granted registration of cyantraniliprole after FMC

The most noticeable registration in this quarter was the first-time registration of cyantraniliprole in the Indian market, where Natco Pharma became the first local company in India to be granted registration of cyantraniliprole technical after FMC.

Cyantraniliprole was developed by DuPont (now Corteva) and later acquired by FMC along with chlorantraniliprole. Compared with chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole is more efficient with a broader spectrum of activity, which can effectively control Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and coleopteran pests while being very safe for the environment. So, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has rated the product as a ″low-risk″ pesticide. Currently, cyantraniliprole has been granted registration and applied in more than 50 countries and regions, including the European Union, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, the United States, and Japan.

The sales of cyantraniliprole have been increasing year on year since 2013. According to IHS Markit, the 2014 global sales of cyantraniliprole were US$72 million, which quickly broke through $124 million in 2016 and increased to $216 million in 2021, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 17.06% from 2014-2021. As a twin of chlorantraniliprole, FMC predicted the peak annual sales of cyantraniliprole to be above $500 million, which is an excellent potential for growth.

In 2024, Syngenta launched its novel insecticide Fortenza, containing cyantraniliprole for application to seed treatment, in the Argentine market, which can effectively protect crops from the damage caused by leafhoppers in the early stage, promote growth and increase yield. Syngenta recommends that Fortenza be used in combination with other products for the complete protection of crops and that protection can be extended to Phase 2 if being used with the mature product Cruiser 60 (thiamethoxam). Thereafter, if necessary, Verdavis (Isocycloseram 100 g/L + lambda-cyhalothrin 150 g/L) can be used continuously till Phase 8.

The compound patent of cyantraniliprole will expire in many countries and regions on January 20, 2024. 

At present, its worldwide patents are as follows:

PCT patent (WO2004067528), filed on January 21, 2004, ending on January 20, 2024;

European patent (EP2264022), filed on January 21, 2004, ending on January 20, 2024;

United States patent (US7247647), filed on January 21, 2004, ending on January 21, 2024;

Chinese patent (CN100441576C), filed on January 21, 2004, ending on January 20, 2024.

So far, the commercialized cyantraniliprole formulations, which are primarily solo products, are as follows:

• First registration – Pydiflumetofen molecular registration shows up in India for the first time for formulation with difenoconazole

The first registration of pydiflumetofen in India is noteworthy. The registration of the product for formulation with difenoconazole was the first registration granted to pydiflumetofen in India, which stands for the official launch of this compound in the Indian market. The registered product is a formulation of difenoconazole 11.49% and pydiflumetofen 6.89% SC.

Pydiflumetofen is Syngenta’s fourth SDHI fungicide, following isopyrazam, sedaxane, and benzovindiflupyr. It has the highest activity against leaf spot and powdery mildew. It is currently the only SDHI fungicide highly effective for controlling gibberellic disease, having earlier landed in the Chinese market in 2020. Up to now, pydiflumetofen has been granted registration in more than 50 countries around the world.

In 2024, Syngenta was granted registration of its novel grain fungicide, MIRAVIS® Plus, in the United Kingdom, which contains the active ingredient pydiflumetofen, being applied to a variety of crops such as winter wheat, spring wheat, and barley for effective control of various diseases. In addition, at the Show Safra 2024 in Brazil, Syngenta showcased its MIRAVIS^® PRO, which is recognized as an edge tool against the complex spot disease in corn and cotton.

The global patent of pydiflumetofen is as the following:

PCT patent (WO2010063700), filed on December 1, 2009, ending on November 30, 2029;

European patent (EP2364293B1), filed on December 1, 2009, ending on November 30, 2029;

United States patent (US8258169B2), filed on December 1, 2009, ending on December 1, 2029;

Chinese patent (CN102239137B), filed on December 1, 2009, ending on November 30, 2029.

So far, the commercialized pydiflumetofen formulations are as the following, which are mostly SC formulations:

Summary

The India pesticide registrations in the first quarter of 2024 show real dynamics of the market, and they are expected to usher in a new round of growth, especially with the registration of novel compounds. The introduction of cyantraniliprole and pydiflumetofen not only provides farmers with more control options but also provides a new impetus for the technical advancement and market competitiveness of the Indian pesticide industry. 

If you have any other questions, please contact AnnieFeng@agropages.com