Brazil: MAPA simplifies rules for registering agrochemicals for ornamental plants

A “Joint Normative Instruction” published on Tuesday, 24th December, in the Federal Official Gazette of Brazil established the guidelines for the registration of pesticides intended for the cultivation of ornamental plants. 

 

The “INC No. 01” was signed by the three agencies responsible for analyzing and releasing agrochemicals in Brazil, which are the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama).

 

According to the regulations, relevant pesticides must feature, in their package inserts and labels, instructions on the type of cultivation environment to be used. For example, if a plant is to be grown in an open, protected or mixed environment.

 

According to the new rules, the package leaflet should also contain the identification of the biological target, the recommended dosage, and the mode of application depending on the size of the plant. But it is not compulsory to include in the prescription for the sale of products, species or crops.

 

“We have around 2,500 species of flowers and ornamental plants being grown in Brazil, and it is impossible to list all these crops on the label. So, based on this reality, Mapa, Ibama and Anvisa decided that, in the case of ornamental plants, they will recommend the listing of flower groups, and any culture can be used within that group. This is a much awaited moment for flower producers, because they have very few authorized products. We hope that it will become a legal milestone and increase the number of products registered for growing ornamental plants,” explained Carlos Venâncio (General Coordinator of Agrochemicals at the Ministry of Agriculture). 

 

The rules also apply to non-edible vegetables grown for commercial purposes and may include seedlings, cuttings or potted plants, herbs, shrubs or trees, which are intended solely for ornamentation or for coating soil surfaces. However, this does not include products used for plants grown in urban environments, such as squares, parks, gardens and sidewalks.

 

“Companies that hold product registrations covered by the instruction are authorized to change the labels of commercial products already registered for this purpose, as well as to replace the list of species of ornamental plants with the categorized type of cultivation environment and biological target, along with recommended doses and methods of application while considering the plant size,” stressed the INC, which entered into force on the date of its publication.

 

The INC was signed by José Guilherme Tollstadius Leal (Secretary of Agricultural Defense of the Ministry of Agriculture), William Dib (CEO of Anvisa) and Eduardo Fortunato Bim (President of Ibama).