Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Announcement No. 736: Effective June next year, the registration of formulations containing four pesticide active ingredients will be revoked; manufacturers of the corresponding technical-grade products will be reclassified to hold only export‑only registrations.

Release Date:

2023-12-26

On December 25, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued Announcement No. 736, announcing the decision to impose a ban on four highly toxic pesticides: omethoate, carbofuran, methomyl, and aldicarb. Details are as follows:

Announcement No. 736 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China

To ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products, the safety of humans and livestock, and the protection of the ecological environment, in accordance with the “Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Deepening Reform and Strengthening Food Safety Work,” it has been decided to impose a ban on four highly toxic pesticides—omethoate, carbofuran, methomyl, and aldicarb. The relevant matters are hereby announced as follows:

I. Effective June 1, 2024, the registration of formulations containing omethoate, carbofuran, methomyl, and aldicarb will be revoked; their production is prohibited, and their sale and use will be banned effective June 1, 2026.

II. The original‑active‑ingredient manufacturers shall continue to produce and export their active ingredients, with existing registrations amended to be limited to export purposes only, and subject to closed‑loop regulatory oversight.

III. Carbofuran technical grade is used as a raw material for the production of thiodicarb and prothioconazole technical grades, and may be supplied on a designated‑site basis between manufacturers of carbofuran, thiodicarb, and prothioconazole technical grades, operating under a closed‑loop system. Methomyl technical grade serves as a raw material for the production of methomyl technical grade, and may be supplied on a designated‑site basis between manufacturers of methomyl and methomyl technical grade, also operating under a closed‑loop system. The relevant provincial departments of agriculture and rural affairs are responsible for verifying, tracking, and supervising the outbound and inbound movements.

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs

December 25, 2023

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