Current status of seed treatment product registration in China: Products containing neonicotinoid active ingredients account for over 70% of the market.

Seed treatment is a widely adopted crop protection practice worldwide. Characterized by low pesticide application rates, high efficacy, minimal impacts on humans, livestock, and the environment, and long residual activity, it stands as one of the key strategies for reducing pesticide use and represents one of the most advanced applications of modern plant protection principles. Seed treatment formulations combine one or more active ingredients—such as insecticides, fungicides, microbial agents, or nutrient elements—with adhesives, colorants, and other excipients to coat the seed surface. These treatments play a vital role in seed disinfection, controlled release of pesticides and fertilizers, control of diseases, pests, and rodent damage, enhancement of crop stress tolerance, and mitigation of environmental pollution. They are now extensively applied across a wide range of crops, delivering significant economic benefits and emerging as a major trend in contemporary pesticide use.

1 Current Status of Registration for Seed Treatment Agents

1.1 Registered Quantity

As of the end of August 2024, a search on the China Pesticide Information Network reveals that China currently holds 1,029 registration certificates for seed treatment products (Figure 1). Of the certificates issued in 2007 or earlier, only 14 remain valid. More than 800 certificates were originally temporary registrations or were revoked due to the inclusion of highly toxic pesticides, among other reasons. Following 2007, seed treatment products in China entered a period of rapid growth, with the number of registrations steadily increasing. After the 2017 revision of the Regulations on the Administration of Pesticides and the promulgation of related implementing rules, a new registration policy was put into effect. As companies were required to conduct trials in accordance with the new requirements, the number of registrations declined somewhat from 2019 to 2020. A subsequent peak occurred in 2021, with 151 registrations, after which the pace slowed again, though overall trends remained stable and upward.

1.2 Registered Dosage Forms

Among currently registered seed treatment products, the approved formulations include seed dressings, dry seed dressings, dry powder seed coatings, wettable‑powder seed coatings, wet seed dressings, emulsifiable seed coatings, suspension seed coatings, seed coatings, dry seed‑treatment powders, dispersible seed‑treatment powders, soluble seed‑treatment powders, seed‑treatment emulsions, microcapsule‑suspension seed‑treatment formulations, microcapsule‑suspension–suspension seed‑treatment formulations, seed‑treatment suspensions, and seed‑treatment liquid formulations. The national standard GB/T 19378-2017 “Names and Codes of Pesticide Formulations,” issued on November 1, 2017, replaced the earlier GB/T 19378-2003; under this new standard, the soluble seed‑treatment powder formulation was discontinued, while suspension seed coatings, seed‑treatment suspensions, and microcapsule‑suspension seed‑treatment formulations were consolidated into a single category: seed‑treatment suspensions. From 2018 through the end of August 2024, the number of registered seed‑treatment products (Table 1) totaled 407 when suspension seed coatings and seed‑treatment suspensions are combined, accounting for 89.2% of all registrations; seed‑treatment suspensions thus emerged as the predominant formulation type registered by enterprises.

1.3 Registered Crops and Pesticide Active Ingredients

The registered crops primarily include wheat, rice, maize, soybean, peanut, cotton, potato, rapeseed, and sunflower. Among these, 353 products are registered for wheat, 244 for rice, 356 for maize, 49 for soybean, and 228 for peanut (Table 2). The authors analyzed seed treatment products registered from 2020 to 2024, which are predominantly for peanut, wheat, and maize—accounting for approximately 80% of the total registered samples—consistent with the current market share of seed treatments.

1.3.1 Wheat

The registered seed treatments for wheat primarily target diseases such as take‑all, loose smut, and root rot, while the main insect pests are aphids, followed by wireworms. Because wheat seeds exhibit relatively high tolerance to seed treatments and are sown at large rates, the requirements for germination rate are less stringent than those for crops like peanuts or corn, and the technical sophistication needed is comparatively low. As a result, agrochemical companies have rushed to develop these products, leading to largely overlapping lists of target pathogens and pests. Few new control targets urgently needed in agricultural production have been added; for example, only two seed treatment products are currently registered for stem base rot, a disease that poses a serious threat to wheat.

1.3.2 Peanut

The registered target diseases for peanut seed treatments are predominantly root rot; however, in recent years, the incidence of white mold has been increasing, leading to a corresponding rise in the number of registered products. Pest control primarily focuses on grubs and aphids. Farmers have clear demands for peanut seed treatments, such as effective management of peanut grubs and prevention of cold‑induced seed rot in spring‑planted peanuts. Consequently, the quality of peanut seed treatment products is relatively high, making it difficult for substandard products to remain competitive in the market.

1.3.3 Corn

The target diseases for registered corn seed treatments are primarily smut and stem base rot, while the primary pests include grubs, wireworms, and aphids. Notably, in recent years, the damage caused by the fall armyworm has become increasingly severe, yet there are few registered products available. Furthermore, no products are currently approved for controlling corn nematode‑induced stunting. Users of corn seed treatments are concentrated among seed companies, which have higher standards than ordinary farmers; firms with limited technical R&D capabilities find it difficult to compete.

1.3.4 Soybeans

Soybean root rot is highly prevalent and widespread, making it one of the most significant diseases affecting soybean crops. Registration of soybean seed treatments primarily focuses on controlling root rot, while insect‑control products are mainly aimed at managing aphids. In recent years, with the expansion of soybean acreage and the growing adoption of soybean–corn intercropping systems, demand for soybean seed treatments has surged. However, the number of registered products remains limited, and their formulation mix is uneven: only four products are registered for managing severe cyst nematode infestations, and just two are approved for controlling underground pests—far short of meeting the needs of agricultural production.

1.3.5 Rice

Rice is sown using a variety of methods, and the climatic conditions and pest‑and‑disease profiles differ between southern and northern regions, placing high demands on the application technologies for seed treatment products. Relatively few companies are involved in developing rice seed coatings, leaving considerable room for future growth. The major diseases for which seed treatments are registered on rice include bakanae disease, sheath blight, damping-off, seedling blight, and dry‑tip nematode disease; the principal insect pests include thrips, brown planthopper, and stem borer. Of particular concern is the rice water weevil, a devastating pest in rice production and a nationally quarantine‑regulated agricultural pest. In recent years, its spread has been rapid, yet no product has yet been approved for registration.

(Table 2) shows that the variety of insecticides used in seed treatments is relatively limited, with neonicotinoids—such as thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid, and dinotefuran—dominating the market, accounting for at least 70%. Seed treatment products containing highly toxic pesticides like carbofuran and phorate have all been delisted, and the number of formulations incorporating restricted‑use pesticides such as chlorpyrifos, fipronil, and thiodicarb has also declined markedly. Notably, insecticides like chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole are being registered for seed‑treatment applications to control pests including the beet armyworm, fall armyworm, and cotton leafworm; further registrations are likely in the future. Thiodicarb is also used in corn seed treatments, with five products currently approved. As a moderately toxic amino acid ester insecticide, thiodicarb does not exhibit chronic toxicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, or mutagenicity, making it relatively safe for crops. Its primary mode of action against pests is stomach poisoning, with high efficacy against lepidopteran species and ovicidal activity; it also demonstrates strong nematodicidal effects, offering good cost‑effectiveness when applied as a seed treatment. It is worth noting that thiodicarb is a derivative of methomyl and carries potential risks; it has already been banned in countries such as India and Vietnam. At the nineteenth meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC19) of the Rotterdam Convention and the nineteenth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC19) of the Stockholm Convention in 2023, significant disagreements arose regarding the final regulatory decision on thiodicarb, leading to its postponement until CRC20 for further consideration. Consequently, the future trajectory of thiodicarb remains uncertain.

Among seed treatment fungicides, fludioxonil and metalaxyl‑M are the most frequently registered. Fludioxonil is a non‑systemic phenylpyrrole fungicide that is absorbed in small amounts during seed germination, thereby controlling pathogens inside the seed and spikelet. Moreover, it exhibits virtually no mobility in the soil, providing long‑term protection to crop roots. Owing to its safety profile and exceptionally long residual activity after seed dressing, it is currently the most widely used fungicide in rice, peanut, and soybean seed treatments, ranking second—slightly behind difenoconazole and tebuconazole—in wheat and corn. Metalaxyl‑M is highly effective against downy mildew, late blight, and Pythium species, protecting crops from initial infection and, once disease has established, inhibiting pathogen spread and development within the plant. At present, there are no superior alternatives, and registrations for this product are expected to continue increasing. For wheat seed treatments, triazole compounds—particularly difenoconazole—are the most commonly registered; mixed formulations combining difenoconazole with fludioxonil or thiamethoxam are also steadily expanding. Other active ingredients such as prothioconazole, fluxapyroxad, fluxazinam, and triflumizole are increasingly being incorporated into seed treatments and may become registration priorities in the future. Currently, only a handful of compounds are known to be suitable for coating applications targeting nematodes; triflumizole, fluopyram, and fluxazinam are SDHI‑type fungicides/nematicides with high efficacy against Fusarium diseases and warrant close attention.

There are relatively few plant growth regulator products available for seed treatment; currently registered active ingredients include gibberellins, naphthaleneacetic acid, indole‑3‑butyric acid, 28‑epibrassinolide, gibberellic acid, 14‑hydroxybrassinosteroid, chitosan, and silicon‑based formulations, among others.

2 Registration Outlook

2.1 Guided by Agricultural Production Needs

In China, the registration of seed treatment products is uneven: they are more extensively registered for traditional food crops such as maize, rice, soybean, and wheat, while registration for high-value cash crops like vegetables, turfgrass, and ornamental flowers remains limited. Moreover, there is a tendency toward overlapping registrations for the same target pests or diseases, whereas registrations for newly emerging pest‑ and disease‑control targets urgently needed in agricultural production are relatively scarce. A growing consensus holds that product development should be driven by actual agricultural needs to prevent destructive competition; accordingly, significant progress is expected in expanding registrations to new crop species and target pests and diseases in the future.

2.2 Diversification of Product Functions  

Seed treatment agents primarily serve to control underground pests and soilborne or seed-borne diseases during the seedling stage, reduce the incidence of pests and diseases in the mid- and late-growth stages, and simultaneously promote root development and germination, or enhance plant immune‑induced resistance, thereby improving stress tolerance. With the national classification of bird‑repellent agents as pesticides, certain seed treatments must also incorporate bird‑deterrent functionality. Ideally, a single seed treatment should integrate all these functions to eliminate the logistical challenges and potential phytotoxicity associated with applying multiple seed coatings prior to sowing. However, during actual product development, a balanced approach is essential, with judicious prioritization to ensure that the number, concentration, and formulation ratios of active ingredients comply with pesticide registration requirements.

2.3 Precision in Scope of Application

As seed treatment products in China continue to advance, their application scope will become increasingly targeted. Different crops have distinct nutritional requirements, varying environmental preferences, and unique susceptibility to pests and diseases. Therefore, seed treatments must be precisely formulated to suit specific crops, growing regions, and sowing conditions, with film-forming agents, active ingredients, and formulation ratios tailored to the registered crop to achieve accurate dosing of both seeds and chemicals.

2.4 Pesticide components are highly efficient and low in toxicity, with formulations that are more environmentally friendly.

With the ban on highly toxic pesticides, pesticide formulations for seed treatments are increasingly shifting toward high efficacy, low toxicity, and reduced residue levels. A new generation of active ingredients—such as chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, prothioconazole, fluxapyroxad, trifloxystrobin, fluxazinam, and fluopyram—are being more widely incorporated into seed coatings. Meanwhile, the development and commercialization of plant‑immune‑inducing agents based on proteins and peptides or oligosaccharides, as well as bio‑based seed coatings containing Bacillus spp. and Trichoderma spp., are also accelerating. In terms of formulation technology, ongoing research and application of film‑forming and controlled‑release techniques are poised to make environmentally friendly, slow‑release formulations—such as microcapsule suspensions—the dominant trend in the design of seed treatment products.

Source: Pesticide Science and Management - CNKI