Chinese Government Encourages Development of Biopesticides
3 August 2011 China’s Ministry of Agriculture is taking steps to improve and encourage agrochemical companies to produce biopesticides, according to China Chemicals Market (CCM).
The Ministry of Agriculture recently drafted the Program for the Elimination and Prohibition of Highly Toxic Pesticides that names 22 pesticides which were deemed unsafe for humans. In addition, the Ministry has also taking steps to draft a policy which encourages the R&D of biopesticides.
The list of 22 pesticides deemed highly-toxic includes fenamiphos, terbufos, methidathion and phorate among others. At least 10 of those pesticides have been or will be banned in 2011, and the remainder will exit the market once less toxic alternatives are found.
The government began revoking the registration of omethoate and isocarbophos on citrus, the registration of methomyl on citrus, apples, teas and brassicaceous vegetables, the registration of cadusafos on citrus and cucumbers, the registration of endosulfan on apples and teas and the registration of bromomethane on strawberries and cucumbers, according to CCM.
Since 1980s, China has continuously banned 23 highly toxic pesticides and limited the use of 19 pesticides on vegetables and fruits. There are 400 pesticide companies involved in the production of 900 products in China containing the 22 highly toxic pesticides, which reached 50,000 tons of output in 2010, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
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