China introduces new policy on pesticide exports

UkrAgroConsult

China has announced the introduction of a new policy on pesticide exports that significantly changes the operating rules for manufacturers and exporters of agrochemical products. The decision is aimed at increasing regulatory flexibility and strengthening the country’s position in the global crop protection market, Agribusiness Global reports.

One of the key innovations is the introduction of an “export-only registration” mechanism. It allows active ingredients that are not registered for domestic use in China to be registered exclusively for export purposes. This creates opportunities for faster access to foreign markets for new or niche products tailored to demand in other countries.

Requirements for pesticide formulations have also been relaxed. In particular, some restrictions on component ratios in formulations, the range of active ingredients, and their concentration levels have been lifted. This approach is expected to enable Chinese manufacturers to better adapt products to the specific regulatory and agro-climatic needs of overseas markets.

Another set of changes concerns regulatory procedures: toxicological data requirements have been significantly reduced, and the technical review period for applications has been shortened to six months. These measures are set to substantially speed up market entry and lower administrative costs for exporters.

Against this backdrop, China’s pesticide exports are already showing strong growth. In the first half of 2025, export volumes reached 2.24 million tonnes, up 17.5% year on year, while export value increased by 14% to $8.5 billion. The new policy is expected not only to transform China’s agrochemical industry but also to intensify global competition, while potentially leading to relative price restraint for pesticides in the short term for agribusinesses and farmers worldwide.

Tags: China, export, Pesticides