Analysis of Pesticide Registration Trends and Characteristics in China in 2021 and Recent Years

In 2021, with the full implementation of the newly revised Regulations on the Administration of Pesticides (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”), pesticide risk management advanced steadily, green and environmentally friendly principles gained deeper traction, and low‑risk and biopesticides continued to grow in prominence. Pesticide registration serves as a critical gateway for products to enter the market, and shifts in the composition of registered formulations to some extent reflect current trends and the state of the pesticide industry. This article summarizes and analyzes the basic registration data and key characteristics for 2021 and recent years, providing a reference for readers.

1. Overall Registration Status

As of December 31, 2021, China had 745 active pesticide ingredients in valid registration status (including new pesticides restricted to export), with a total of 44,603 registered products (excluding those solely for export; the same applies hereinafter). Of these, 41,739 were agricultural-use pesticides and 2,864 were public‑health pesticides. From 2013 to 2021, the annual average growth rate of the total number of registered pesticide products was 5.20% (Figure 1), with a year‑on‑year increase of 6.49% in 2020 (during the policy transition period). According to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Announcement No. 269, 121 pesticide products restricted to export (EX) have been approved for registration over the past two years; as these products are prohibited from domestic sale or use, they are not discussed further in this report. Currently, there are 1,909 holders of pesticide registration certificates, an increase compared to 2020, comprising 1,773 domestic entities and 136 overseas entities.

Figure 1: Total Annual Pesticide Registrations, 2013–2021

Figure 2: Annual Number of New Pesticide Registrations, 2013–2021

In 2021, 2,768 new pesticide products were registered (including 2,470 for field crops and 298 for public health applications), approaching the nine-year average (Figure 2). From 2013 to 2021, although the annual number of registered products fluctuated considerably, the overall trend was downward, with an average annual decline rate of 3.31%. Pesticide use has recorded negative growth for five consecutive years.

2. Analysis of Registration Characteristics

2.1 The number of mildly toxic and low-toxicity pesticides continues to rise.

From the perspective of pesticide toxicity classes, in recent years the ratio of annually registered low‑toxicity and slightly toxic pesticides to the total number of pesticide registrations has been steadily increasing, rising from 78.3% in 2013 to 85.6% in 2021, with an average annual growth rate of 1.12%. In 2021, this ratio increased by 0.94% compared with 2020. Conversely, the ratios of moderately toxic and highly or acutely toxic pesticides to the total number of registrations have been gradually declining.

The ratio of the annual number of newly registered slightly toxic or low‑toxicity pesticides to the total number of new registrations in the same year has been steadily increasing, with a nine‑year average of 93.9% and a peak of 95.9% in 2021. Notably, the share of slightly toxic products has grown markedly, posting an average annual growth rate of 4.82% (Figure 3). Over the past nine years, the average annual ratio of slightly toxic or low‑toxicity pesticides to all new pesticide registrations stood at 97.1%; in 2021, the number of newly registered slightly toxic products surged by 156% compared with 2020 (Figure 4). These trends also indicate that the number of highly toxic pesticides registered in China is declining rapidly, while the proportion of slightly toxic and low‑toxicity pesticides is rising significantly. As technological advances drive the development of new pesticides, efforts to replace and manage highly toxic, high‑risk pesticides are intensifying, gradually optimizing China’s pesticide portfolio and comprehensively enhancing pesticide quality.

Figure 3: Ratio of the number of newly registered moderately toxic/low-toxicity pesticides to the total number of new registrations for the current year.

Figure 4: Ratio of the number of registrations for moderately toxic/low-toxicity new pesticides to the number of new pesticide registrations this year.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has issued a public consultation, proposing that, effective March 1, 2022, the registration and production licenses for the active ingredients and formulated products of phorate, methyl isofenphos, isocarbophos, and monocrotophos be revoked, with production prohibited. Furthermore, starting March 1, 2024, the sale and use of these substances will be banned. [Announcement No. 536 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has already specified the phase-out measures: effective September 1, 2022, the pesticide registrations for phorate, methyl isofenphos, isocarbophos, and monocrotophos—both as active ingredients and in formulated products—will be revoked, and production will be prohibited. Products legally manufactured prior to this date may continue to be sold and used within their guaranteed shelf life; however, their sale and use will be prohibited beginning September 1, 2024 (Editor’s note).] In addition, highly toxic pesticides such as aldicarb, methomyl, carbofuran, omethoate, aluminum phosphide, and chloropicrin will be phased out in stages.

2.2 Clear Trends in Dosage Form Optimization

In recent years, the number of environmentally friendly pesticide formulations registered in China has been increasing rapidly, with a clear trend toward formulation optimization that has reduced impacts on humans, livestock, and the environment. Examining the registration figures for major formulation types, emulsifiable concentrates have consistently accounted for the largest share; however, their proportion relative to the total annual registrations has been declining, at an average annual rate of 4.71%, though this decline has moderated over the past two years, suggesting more stringent oversight of production licensing and registration for emulsifiable concentrate products. Similarly, the share of wettable powders has also been falling, with an average annual decline of 3.33%. By contrast, the proportions of suspension concentrates, water-dispersible granules, and oil‑dispersible suspensions have been steadily rising, posting average annual growth rates of 8.70%, 5.96%, and 16.0%, respectively (Figure 5). Indeed, Figure 5 provides a clear overview of the evolution of China’s major formulation categories.

Figure 5: Number of Registrations for Each Major Dosage Form as a Percentage of the Total Product Registrations for the Year

(Note: EC—emulsifiable concentrate; WP—wettable powder; SC—suspension concentrate; WG—water-dispersible granule; OD—oil-dispersible suspension.)

It is noteworthy that the ratio of annual registrations across major formulation types to the number of new product registrations in the current year has varied considerably (Figure 6). Among these, the ratio for suspensions has risen most rapidly, consistently ranking among the highest since 2013, with an average annual growth rate of 6.12%; the ratio for dispersible oil suspensions has increased markedly, at an average annual growth rate of 13.4%; the ratios for water-dispersible granules and emulsifiable concentrates have declined more gradually, with average annual decline rates of 5.87% and 5.02%, respectively; and the ratio for wettable powders has fallen sharply, with an average annual decline rate of 16.7%. Figure 6 illustrates the future trends in China’s pesticide formulation landscape.

Figure 6: Number of Registrations for Each Major Dosage Form and the Ratio of New Product Registrations This Year

Each year, the number of environmentally friendly pesticide formulations registered continues to grow, including mainstream formulations such as suspensions and dispersible oil suspensions, as well as bait formulations and vaporizing cores.

2.3 The decline in fungicides has disrupted the trend of the three major pesticide categories becoming more evenly balanced.

From the perspective of pesticide use categories, although insecticides have consistently accounted for the largest share of annual registrations, their proportion relative to the total number of pesticide registrations has been gradually declining, while the share of herbicides has been steadily increasing.

Since 2016, the ratio of pesticide registrations (including public‑health pesticides) to the number of new pesticide registrations in the same year has shifted from a leading position and declined annually, before rebounding over the past two years to return to the top in 2021. From 2017 to 2020, herbicides consistently ranked first in this ratio, but slipped to second place in 2021 (Figure 7). Meanwhile, fungicides have experienced a marked decline in recent years—particularly after the International Register of Insecticide Resistance Action (IRAC) established a Nematode Working Group in 2019 to provide guidance on classifying the modes of action of nematicides and identifying resistance risks, recommending that the classification and categorization of nematicides be carefully considered—thereby disrupting the trend toward an increasingly balanced distribution among the three major pesticide categories (insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides) in terms of their registration‑to‑new‑registration ratios (Figure 8).

Figure 7: Ratio of the number of registrations for the three major categories of pesticides to the number of new registrations this year

Figure 8: Number of Pesticide Registrations by Category in 2021 and the Ratio to the Number of New Registrations Added This Year

The ratio of the annual number of pesticide registrations for public health purposes to the number of new registrations in the current year has been declining markedly over the past six years (Figure 9), but it has fluctuated upward from 2019 to 2021, eventually surpassing and slightly exceeding its previous level. This trend may be attributable to the entry of both established field‑crop pesticide companies and new entrants, which have helped drive progress in the sector—particularly through an increase in registrations for environmental‑use products and baits, thereby diversifying the market’s product portfolio.

Figure 9: Ratio of the number of registered sanitary pesticides to the number of newly registered pesticides this year

2.4 Significant Growth in Biopesticides

China’s biopesticides primarily comprise biochemical pesticides, microbial pesticides, and plant‑derived pesticides. As of December 31, 2021, there were 141 active ingredients and 2,105 registered biopesticide products (excluding agricultural antibiotics and natural enemies). Over the past seven years, the average annual growth rates for active ingredients and products were 9.68% and 10.6%, respectively (Figures 10–11). For the first time in the last three years, the annual growth rate of product registrations exceeded that of active ingredients, indicating that the number of registered biopesticides in China is accelerating and that the biopesticide industry is steadily expanding.

Figure 10: Number of Registrations for Active Ingredients of Various Biopesticides, 2015–2021

Figure 11: Number of Registrations for Various Biological Pesticide Products, 2015–2021

Over the past nine years, the ratio of newly registered biopesticides to the total number of new pesticide registrations each year has shown a fluctuating yet upward trend, with an average annual growth rate of 38.4%. In 2021, the number of newly registered biopesticide varieties increased by 114% compared to 2020 (Figure 12), marking a significant development in China’s history of new pesticide registration. Stricter requirements for registration dossiers have made it more challenging to register new chemical pesticides, whereas the documentation standards for biopesticides—particularly those used for public health—are relatively lower, prompting many companies to shift their focus toward developing biopesticides. In 2021, biopesticides accounted for 71.4% of all newly registered pesticide varieties, with microbial pesticides alone representing 42.8%. Given the inherent characteristics of biopesticides and technical challenges related to industrial-scale production, further research and exploration are needed to progressively enhance product quality stability and efficacy, while encouraging enterprises to develop and register high‑efficacy, low‑risk pesticide products.

Figure 12: Ratio of Newly Registered Biopesticides to the Number of New Pesticide Registrations in the Current Year, 2013–2021

As of December 31, 2021, according to the “List of Class I Crop Pests and Diseases” published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the fall armyworm—ranked first among insect pests—has 18 registered products targeting this pest in China, 77.8% of which are biopesticides, including Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Bacillus thuringiensis, cabbage looper nucleopolyhedrovirus, fall armyworm sex pheromones, and matrine–azadirachtin formulations. The migratory locust, ranked second, has 37 registered products for locust control, with 37.8% being biopesticides, comprising Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Locusta migratoria microsporidia, matrine, and azadirachtin.

2.5 Major Crops/Settings and Target Pests/Diseases

Currently, among the registered pesticide products in China, the crops most commonly targeted for pest and disease control include rice, cabbage, cucumber, citrus, cotton, apple, and wheat; the agricultural settings most frequently treated with herbicides comprise cornfields, non-cultivated land, wheat fields, soybean fields, and paddy fields. The major insect pests covered by these products are aphids, red spider mites, cabbage caterpillars, rice planthoppers, diamondback moths, and cotton bollworms; fungal pathogens include downy mildew, powdery mildew, sheath blight, anthracnose, and blast; and weed species encompass annual weeds, broadleaf weeds, annual grassy weeds, and other types of annual weeds. This pattern broadly reflects and aligns with the current needs of China’s principal grain, cotton, vegetable, and fruit crops for insecticidal, fungicidal, and herbicidal protection—though such needs may vary depending on geographic conditions, climate, and local farming practices—thereby supporting the scientific and effective management of crop diseases, pests, and weeds, and helping to ensure national food security and the reliable supply of key agricultural products.

2.6 China’s pesticide manufacturing capabilities are steadily improving.

The new Regulations encourage and support the research, development, production, and use of safe, efficient, and cost‑effective pesticides, creating favorable opportunities for low‑risk products. Under the new circumstances, China’s manufacturing and R&D activities in the pesticide sector, along with patent‑protected products, have been steadily increasing. Over the past nine years, the average annual ratio of newly registered domestic pesticides to the number of new pesticide varieties approved in the current year has been 64.6% (Figure 13), with an average annual growth rate of 2.14%. In 2021, this figure rose by 62.0% compared with 2020, signaling a steady improvement in China’s pesticide manufacturing and R&D capabilities. Meanwhile, newly registered foreign‑origin pesticides often feature novel modes of action and lack cross‑resistance with existing products, thereby playing a pioneering role.

Figure 13: Ratio of Newly Registered Pesticides by Domestic Enterprises to the Number of New Pesticide Varieties Registered This Year

Additionally, among newly registered pesticide varieties, the number of active ingredients and formulated products registered simultaneously has been steadily increasing. Over the past nine years, the annual growth rate of the ratio of such dual‑registration cases to the total number of newly registered pesticides this year has averaged 3.15%, with an average value of 73.6% (Figure 14).

Figure 14: Ratio of the number of new active ingredients or technical-grade materials to the number of formulated products registered concurrently

2.7 Steady Growth in the Use of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs attaches great importance to the development of the Chinese medicinal materials industry, promoting standardized production, regulating the registration and management of agrochemicals used on these crops, strengthening oversight of pesticide residues, and enhancing the overall quality of medicinal materials. In accordance with Document No. 102 [2020] issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Pesticides), the authorities are making full use of government-funded projects and social resources to encourage testing institutions and manufacturers to conduct joint registration trials for agrochemicals targeting minor-use crops such as Chinese medicinal materials. A fast-track approval process has been established to accelerate registration procedures, thereby providing support for specialized agricultural industries. Currently, registered pesticide products are available for a wide range of Chinese medicinal materials, including goji berries, honeysuckle, ginseng, notoginseng, Dendrobium officinale, Atractylodes macrocephala, Fritillaria, Rehmannia glutinosa, Corydalis yanhusuo, Polygonatum sibiricum, Scrophularia ningpoensis, Codonopsis pilosula, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Ophiopogon japonicus, Angelica sinensis, Atractylodes lancea, Isatis indigotica, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Coptis chinensis, Schizonepeta tenuifolia, Paeonia lactiflora, sea buckthorn, and Rheum palmatum. Additionally, certain medicinal‑food dual‑purpose herbs—such as yam, lily, chrysanthemum, ginger, jujube, and garlic—are more commonly regarded as food items in daily life, and thus enjoy a relatively larger number of registrations. Given that most Chinese medicinal materials require processing and extraction after harvest before their therapeutic value can be fully realized when taken orally, and considering their status as a special category of “food,” it is recommended that the names of certain plant species prone to confusion—such as sophora and white hyacinth bean—be accompanied by the qualifier “for medicinal use.”

Currently, 437 products have been registered for use on Chinese medicinal materials, primarily fungicides (59.0%) and insecticides (31.1%), covering 99 active ingredients. In recent years, both the variety and number of registered agrochemicals have been steadily increasing. Under the national standard “National Food Safety Standard—Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Foods” (GB 2763–2021), 160 maximum residue limit (MRL) standards have been established for 96 pesticides across nine medicinal plants, including ginseng, goji berries, notoginseng, Dendrobium, dried lily, Atractylodes macrocephala, Fritillaria, honeysuckle, and Corydalis yanhusuo. It is essential to accelerate the registration of pesticide applications for Chinese medicinal materials and the development of residue limit standards, thereby promoting the scientific use of these unique traditional medicinal resources, reducing the risk of pesticide residues, and enhancing the quality and therapeutic efficacy of Chinese medicinal materials.

In 2021, China had established nearly 100 standards, including efficacy test guidelines and pest‑control protocols for minor specialty crops, as well as methods for detecting pesticide residues (see Tables 1–2). These include standards for Chinese medicinal materials such as Atractylodes macrocephala, Ophiopogon japonicus, Codonopsis pilosula, Fritillaria thunbergii, Gardenia jasminoides, Amomum villosum, and Lycium barbarum. Although most of these are local or industry‑specific standards, their flexibility in addressing existing gaps helps advance the standardization of practices for minor crops.

Table 1: Selected Standards, Including Efficacy Test Guidelines and Control Protocols for Specialty Minor Crops in 2021

Table 2: Standards for Pesticide Residue Testing Methods in Specialty Minor Crops

2.8 Moving Toward Scientific and Precise Medication

In 2021, the group standard “Determination of the Minimum Effective Field Dose of Pesticides” (T/CCPIA 110—2021) was released, along with application‑rate limit standards for 57 insecticide, fungicide, and herbicide products. This series of standards introduces a new concept in the pesticide field—the minimum effective dose: the lowest application rate required to achieve an acceptable level of control when the damage caused by a pest to the crop reaches the threshold for intervention. Under field trial conditions, through a series of dose–response experiments and statistical analyses (P < 0.05), the minimum test dose that meets the following criteria is designated as the minimum effective dose: it must effectively suppress pest‑induced damage to the crop—typically with an acceptable control efficacy of >80% for fungicides, >85% for insecticides, and >90% for herbicides; it must deliver consistent and stable control across target pests; and it must minimize the amount of pesticide applied in the field.

The application limits for pesticide products are defined as a safety threshold interval, with the lower limit set at the minimum effective dose of the pesticide and the upper limit determined by the lowest value among the dietary risk‑based application threshold, the environmental risk‑based application threshold, and the high end of the registered dosage. Conversely, a reassessment of risks should be conducted.

Only by implementing scientifically sound and precisely targeted pesticide application can we minimize field usage, reduce waste and environmental exposure, and effectively achieve yield increases with reduced inputs, thereby safeguarding the quality and safety of agricultural products as well as ecological and environmental integrity.

3 Summary

Analysis of registration data from 2021 and recent years indicates that the number of safe, environmentally friendly pesticide varieties and formulations, as well as biopesticides and products used on Chinese medicinal materials, has been steadily increasing. It is recommended to adopt a new mindset, enhance enterprises’ R&D and production capabilities, and improve their expertise in specialized approval and testing procedures. Establishing a platform for information exchange and providing rigorous, practical guidance and recommendations for new‑product applications would help reduce costly testing, conserve societal resources and time, and alleviate the burden on businesses—while enabling scientifically sound management that facilitates the rapid development of low‑risk pesticides.

According to the National Pesticide Industry Development Plan for the 14th Five-Year Period, by 2025, China’s chemical pesticide utilization rate for the three major grain crops will reach over 43% (compared with 40.6% in 2020), and the coverage of specialized, unified pest and disease control for these same crops will rise to 45% (up from 41.9% in 2020). China’s pesticide industry is moving toward greater safety for human and animal health and reduced environmental impact, with multidisciplinary collaboration paving the way for high-quality development.

Data is the fundamental building block of information management platforms and serves as a critical basis and reference for statistical analysis and strategic decision-making. To this end, it is essential to jointly standardize and optimize the design and data entry processes of pesticide databases and terminology, thereby enhancing data accuracy and advancing digitalization and standardization.

Authors: Bai Xiaoning1, Li Youshun1, Zhao Annan1, Li Fugen1, Yuan ShanKui1, Wang Yiyan1*, Wang Rou2 (1. Pesticide Inspection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; 2. College of Science, China Agricultural University)

Source: Pesticide Science and Management, Issue 1, 2022