Costa Rica announces new pesticide registration regulations

An updated regulation RTCR 484/2016 governing the registration of pesticides on synthetic formulations, active ingredients and other substances for agricultural use was published last month in Alcance Digital Nº 8 a La Gaceta Nº 9, DIARIO OFICIAL of Costa Rica.

 

It will become effective six months after the mid-January publication and aims to improve the registration of such substances, keeping in mind the interests of the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, at the same time ensuring human, environmental and plant health.

 

The registry will be managed by the system plant protection of the state (SFE), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. However, the ministries of health, environment and energy will also have a say that would be have to be taken into account by the SFE.

 

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica, Luis Felipe Arauz Cavallini, explained that it was satisfying to have formalized the new regulation and it having a balanced and modern approach that should allow farmers access to new formulas that are more innovative and environment-friendly and more efficient, which would result in the lower use of pesticides and in turn bring down production costs.