Registrations of thiamethoxam formulations soar in China

According to Insecticides China News 1309 issued by CCM, Recently, Syngenta is busy with the promotion of its thiamethoxam–based seed treatment product (Cruiser), by holding two Cruiser Vigor Forum in Guangdong and Shandong. The product's excellent performance and Syngenta's professional promotion work are very impressive. However, Syngenta will face intense competition from Chinese companies in its thiamethoxam business.

 

Besides thiamethoxam technical, many Chinese pesticide companies are actively registering thiamethoxam formulation products. By 16 July 2013, 48 thiamethoxam registrations had been approved in China, including 34 of formulations. Among the formulations registrations, 13 are from domestic companies.

The thiamethoxam formulations' registration at present is only the tip of the iceberg. It will soar in the coming one to two years. According to data from the Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture (ICAMA), pesticide companies had filed 448 registration applications for thiamethoxam formulations in China, by 16 July 2013. 

 

Before 2010, registration application of thiamethoxam formulations in China was very small, usually less than ten each year. However, the application jumped to 72 in 2010 and 74 in 2011. In 2012, the application times even hit 151, up 104% year on year. This trend continued in 2013. By 16 July 2013, the application times had hit 110. 

 

It is very easy to understand the boom of registration application since 2010. Syngenta’s patent for thiamethoxam in China expires in 2013 and it takes two to three years for a company to register a pesticide formulation in China. As a result, many domestic companies started to file their registration applications in 2010, so that they may launch their thiamethoxam formulation products in 2013 or 2014.

The application for registrations of thiamethoxam formulations include 34 kinds of products. Thiamethoxam–single formulation is the most popular one, with the application times of 303, accounting for 67.63% of the total. Besides, the registration applications of some mixed formulations, such as thiamethoxam+pymetrozine, thiamethoxam+abamectin and thiamethoxam+lambda-cyhalothrin are also very popular. For other mixed formulations, their application times are less than ten. 

 

Most registration applications of the thiamethoxam formulations are targeted on many crops, but most of them are focusing on rice for the control of plant hopper. 

These registration applications of thiamethoxam formulations come from 209 companies. Almost all the big domestic pesticide formulations companies have filed registration application of thiamethoxam formulations. Five companies' registration application times exceed ten and the total registration application times of these companies hit 77, accounting for 17.19% of the total. 

  

Shaanxi Meibang Group is the most active company, with the registration application times of 21. The company tries to register thiamethoxam targeted on many kinds of crops, such as rice, wheat, corn, cotton, tea, vegetable and horticultural crops. 

With so many registration applications, it is believed that thiamethoxam formulations products will witness a blowout in domestic market in the coming two to three years. The potential for market disruptions of thiamethoxam formulations in domestic market is very high.

 

However, even for those companies that have filed registration applications, there are two opposite opinions. 

 

"We filed the registration application for thiamethoxam formulations in 2012, but we are not optimistic about the future of this product. The registration is just for the expansion of our product portfolio, and to meet more customers' needs," said an insider from Shanghai Lianbao Cropsciences Co., Ltd (Shanghai Lianbao). 

 

In fact, like Shanghai Lianbao, many companies are not optimistic about the future of these products, but they still try to register it. Many companies are just following others blindly. They register products that others are registering. 

 

But some companies' expectation for this product is very high. In their minds, the sales revenue of thiamethoxam is very huge and the application field is still expanding, so it is not hard to get a slice of cake. Besides, they believe that the Chinese government will not ban thiamethoxam easily like EU.

Table of Contents of Insecticides China News 1309:

Registrations of thiamethoxam formulations soar in China

Direct selling of pesticides: new exploration of pesticide marketing mode

Jiangsu Province issues subsidy list for biological pesticide in 2013

Biva enzyme: new way to solve problem of pesticide residues

Promotion of most botanical insecticides not good in China

Registrations for thiamethoxam TC and indoxacarb TC increase sharply in June and July

Dow Agrosciences launches sulfoxaflor in China

Guangxi Tianyuan upgrades to key laboratory of China in July 2013

Chinese insecticides import and export volume continue to increase in July

Situation of Mythimna separata in Northeast China to worsen

Chinese government allocates subsidy of USD79.2 million for crop disaster assistance

Insecticides China News, a monthly publication issued by CCM on 10^th, provides the latest and influential analysis on insecticide industry. Major contents include special report, company dynamics, market dynamics, supply and demand, price analysis, policy, raw material and intermediate.

About CCM

CCM is dedicated to market research in China, Asia-Pacific Rim and global market. With a staff of more than 150 dedicated highly-educated professionals, CCM offers Market Data, Analysis, Reports, Newsletters, Buyer-Trader Information, Import/Export Analysis, and Consultancy Service. 

For more information, please visit http://www.cnchemicals.com.

Guangzhou CCM Information Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
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DuPont offers rewards for protecting its patent insecticides

On 10 April, 2013, Shanghai DuPont Agricultural Chemicals Limited (DuPont) posted a reward announcement. According to the announcement, anyone offering evidence of infringement of its patents for its two major products—chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole—will receive a reward from DuPont, the maximum reward reaching USD24,270 (RMB150,000) per individual. This reveals that DuPont is fighting infringement of its patents on a national scale.

In detail, this reward targets five illegal patent infringement activities: producing and selling fake pesticides under the name of chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole; producing and selling chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole technical (TC); export of the aforementioned products with the name of other chemical products; adding the aforementioned products as recessive ingredients to other insecticides; transporting the aforementioned products.

The announcement does not limit the type of occupations. Anyone (including farmers) discovering evidence of these five illegal activities around the country can call or send a SMS to the hotline of DuPont until 31 May, 2013. The reward value depends on the effect of evidence and the type of case, with a maximum of USD24,270, which is attractive enough to stimulate the public to cooperate with DuPont to crack down on illegal activities and products.

The patent products of DuPont and other international enterprises has been suffering patent infringement in China, as counterfeiting of these patent products and selling other products under their names  generates abundant profits. Chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole are DuPont's core insecticides with valid patent and intellectual property in China and they are also the targets of counterfeiting.

The high profit obtainable and high product awareness have incentivized many domestic producers to illegally produce chlorantraniliprole products, disturbing DuPont legal business operation since it introduced chlorantraniliprole into China in 2008. As revealed by an insider, DuPont discovers more than 60 cases involving infringements of its chlorantraniliprole patent in every province in China annually. Of these, adding chlorantraniliprole or counterfeited chlorantraniliprole into other insecticides as recessive ingredient is the most frequently discovered type of chlorantraniliprole patent infringement case.

Besides, producing chlorantraniliprole TC illegally should not be ignored, as the illegal production of chlorantraniliprole TC is one source of other illegal activities of infringement of patents. For instance, one company namely Nantong Tianye Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. once owned a   chlorantraniliprole TC production line, and sold its chlorantraniliprole in 18 provinces from 2009 to 2010, with a total sales value of USD5.67 million (RMB35 million). It is one of the largest patent infringement cases in China's pesticide industry.

Similarly, cyantraniliprole, a new insecticide registered by DuPont in Sept. 2012 in China, is predicted to face this problem in the process of its promotion in the domestic market. In order to protect legal intellectual property and guarantee normal business operation of the company, DuPont has to pay attention to cracking down on illegal activities involving chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole.

According to an insider, DuPont mainly uses two methods for cracking down on illegal activities. Hiring specific operators to investigate illegal activities which infringe its legal benefits is the major method.

Offering reward is considered another effective method and a supplement for hiring specific operators, as the reward announcement can be spread widely, compared with hiring specific operators. The investigation scale can cover the whole country using people with different occupations such as farmers and couriers, if DuPont strengthens the advertising of the reward. DuPont advertises through specific media, targeting dealers and salesmen in the agrochemical industry. These advertisement targets can provide more accurate evidence as they are familiar with the supply and sales channel in their local regions.

Meanwhile, the reward announcement can also warn infringers. Some infringers who are afraid of becoming involved in lawsuits will probably stop their infringement behaviour, which is also the aim of the reward announcement by DuPont. Obtaining compensation for infringement rights through the court is not DuPont's original purpose.

The reward announcement has had a quick achievement. It is reported that an individual workshop producing counterfeit pesticides with a big output volume was caught in mid-April 2013 by local officials of Yueyang City, Hunan Province, with the assistance of DuPont. It is probably a case of counterfeiting chlorantraniliprole.

Besides DuPont, another agrochemical giant Syngenta has also taken legal action to protect its patent rights. It filed a lawsuit with Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court (Court) against Xiangtan Changsheng Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. (Xiangtan Changsheng) for infringement of its thiamethoxam patent. Syngenta appealed to the Court for an injunction prohibiting Xiangtan Changsheng from producing, using and selling (including exporting) thiamethoxam and thiamethoxam derivatives which had infringed its patent; meanwhile, Syngenta petitioned the Court to destroy all derivatives of thiamethoxam and thiamethoxam from Xiangtan Changsheng.

The news was sourced from Insecticides China News, issued by CCM in May.

Table of Contents of Insecticides China News 1305:

CCPIA to launch pesticide exhibitions in Ukraine and Myanmar

China's chlorpyrifos witnesses price rebound in 2013

New technology reduces 30% production cost of pyrethrin

Consumption of wheat insecticides in heading stage to decrease this year

Abamectin and fosthiazate to be mainstream nematicides in China

Emamectin benzoate + indoxacarb becomes a hotspot

Jiangsu Huifeng to expand capacity of intermediate of bifenthrin to 2,000t/a

Shandong Rainbow expands insecticide registrations overseas

DuPont offers rewards for protecting its patent insecticides

Nanjing Redsun constructs project of 50,000t/a intermediate for chlorpyrifos

Jiangxi Tianren acquires USD28.5 million investment from IFC

Nantong Changqing to launch 1,000t/a acetamiprid TC project

China's dimethoate export volume & value soared in 2012

Price Update Table

Insecticides China News, a monthly publication issued by CCM on 10^th, provides the latest and influential analysis on insecticide industry. Major contents include special report, company dynamics, market dynamics, supply and demand, price analysis, policy, raw material and intermediate.

About CCM

CCM is dedicated to market research in China, Asia-Pacific Rim and global market. With a staff of more than 150 dedicated highly-educated professionals, CCM offers Market Data, Analysis, Reports, Newsletters, Buyer-Trader Information, Import/Export Analysis, and consultancy service. 

For more information, please visit http://www.cnchemicals.com.

Guangzhou CCM Information Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
17th Floor, Huihua Commercial & Trade Mansion, No.80 Xianlie Zhong Road, Guangzhou 510070, China

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Email: econtact@cnchemicals.com

Syngenta: Financial results for Latin America

Latin America sales increased by 12% as volume increased by 11% while sales prices increased by 2 %, partially offset by a 1% unfavorable currency effect. Crop protection sales increased by 12%, 13% at constant exchange rates, with a volume increase of 11% and a price increase of 2%. Sales in the first quarter were impacted negatively by severe drought in the region, but recovered strongly as high commodity prices, especially in soybeans, led to increased acreage and higher usage of modern crop protection products. The drive to increase sugar cane productivity in the region also contributed to strong growth in herbicide sales.
 
Seeds sales increased by 17%, 18% at constant exchange rates with volume increasing by 17% and local currency prices increasing by 1% mainly due to increased corn and soybean sales from increased acreage and a strong second season in Brazil, and as well from estimated market share gains. 
 
Additionally the company confirmed a USD50 million investment to build a new processing plant for corn and sunflower seeds in Argentina, confirming its long-term commitment to argentine agriculture.

Crop Protection South America Monthly Report is a monthly publication released by CCM’s. It offers timely update and close follow up of South America's various kind of Crop market dynamics, analyze the market data and trends. Major columns include companies' current dynamics and market situation, a close watch of government policies and regional dynamics.

About CCM
CCM is dedicated to market research in China, Asia-Pacific Rim and global market. With a staff of more than 150 dedicated highly-educated professionals, CCM offers Market Data, Analysis, Reports, Newsletters, Buyer-Trader Information, Import/Export Analysis, and consultancy service. 
For more information, please visit http://www.cnchemicals.com.

Guangzhou CCM Information Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
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Tel: 86-20-37616606

Email: econtact@cnchemicals.com

CCM is conducting a regional consumption research on China’s agricultural resources

In recent days, CCM, a Chinese consulting company with more than 10-year history, has announced its latest dynamics and a series of planning projects for the year 2013. CCM revealed that it will put more emphasis on the Chinese market’s development in 2013. In the past decade, over 70% of CCM’s business value has been gained from the overseas’ markets. Some of our customers are from the world’s top 500 enterprises, like BASF, Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta and so on. “This year, CCM will not only maintain the development of overseas markets, but also further explore Chinese market through our leading edges in the fields of market research and consulting service.” said Mr. Wu Zhonghui, founder and general manager of CCM.

As introduced, the project for regional consumption research on China’s agricultural resources will be a long-term program included in CCM’s development plan. The research will focus on a large number of accurate data and useful information about the agricultural resources in China, including consumption of pesticides, fertilizers, seeds, as well as equipment, consumption, behavior of farmers, planting cost, etc…

It is known that China is one of the largest agricultural countries in the world. Its annual output and consumption volume of agricultural products have been standing ahead among the world’s leading countries. Meanwhile, the latest development situation and future development prediction have become a big concern globally. In order to seize market opportunities, CCM is committed to creating a professional information platform for manufacturers, importers, exporters, investors, institutions, academics and other insiders of the agricultural industry worldwide.

“The research will feature rigorous study results conducted by our experienced researchers, helping you gain comprehensive understanding of consumption intelligence on various agricultural supplies, like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.” explained Mr. Wu.

CCM also revealed that it has kicked off the program since 2012 and selected Hunan Province as the pilot target for the research. Hunan is an important province for rice planting in China, holding a planting area of over 300,000 hectares. CCM introduced that the research on Hunan’s rice planting is carried out in 30 counties of three major cities in China, namely Hengyang, Yueyang and Changde, all of which are major rice production bases in Hunan.

With several days of on-site investigations and a lot of questionnaires, CCM has taken over three months to conduct the research. The main contents of the research will focus on the rice planting area of each county, seeds and its cost, the consumption volume of pesticides & fertilizers in different phases of planting, the proportion and cost of various pesticides and their effectiveness on pest control, as well as the occurrences of various crop diseases, pests & weeds, etc.

“By utilizing the successful experience in the research in Hunan, our company will expand the research project into other regions of China. We are expecting to provide our clients with an extremely comprehensive and essential intelligence on China’s agricultural resources.” said Mr. Wu.

For more information about CCM and its project, please visit: www.cnchemicals.com

About CCM

CCM is dedicated to market research in China, Asia-Pacific Rim and global market. With a staff of more than 150 highly-educated professionals, CCM offers Market Data, Analysis, Reports, Newsletters, Buyer-Trader Information, Import/Export Analysis, all through its new proprietary product “ValoTracer”.

Contacts:

Contact person：Cherry Chen

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Email: econtact@cnchemicals.com

MOF allocates USD19.4 billion subsidies to support spring farming

Restrictive policies restrain multinational seed companies' technological advantages, which also hinders their further growth in China, such as DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto and Syngenta. Other multinationals like Dow AgroSciences, Bayer and Limagrain are planning to enter China's seed market. And it is worth noting that dependent on the good business contacts with Heilongjiang Land Reclamation Bureau, KWS fortunately has a sound development in China.
 
Even with technology strength, foreign companies are strategically hesitant and irresolute. They excessively go after short-term benefits while sharing the shortcoming of different culture and concept. Thus, the best way out for these companies is to make specific and steady long-term strategies and connect themselves more with local markets in practice.  Furthermore, whether foreign companies could build long-term partnership with multi stakeholders will be crucial for their successful operation and sustainable development in China.

In order to support the spring farming, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) recently has allocated USD2.4 billion (RMB15.1 billion) of grain direct subsidies and USD17.0 billion (RMB107.1 billion) of subsidies for agricultural means of production to provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. In addition, the MOF has also allocated USD5.0 billion (RMB31.5 billion) of grants for 2013 grain risk fund. Coupled with USD1.1 billion (RMB6.7 billion) that allocated by local government, the current amount of grain risk fund has risen to USD6.1 billion (RMB38.2 billion). The grain risk fund, established in 1994, is aiming to protect the interests of grain growers, and further to stabilize grain markets and to ensure national grain safety. In order to alleviate the financial burden of the main production areas, the grain risk funds in China's 13 main production areas have all been paid by the MOF.

AgriChina Investor is a monthly publication released by CCM’s. It is covering sections of investment environment, investment dynamics, market watch, industry discovery, expert view and market review etc.AgriChina Investor will focus on the economic situation, governmental policy, financial capital flow, key players' dynamics, big events and hot issues etc. in agriculture industry. Providing the most comprehensive information about the capital investment dynamics and market dynamics, this newsletter can make you clear about the investment environments in China's agriculture industry.

About CCM
As a leading market research consulting company in China with more than 10-year-experience, CCM offers Market Data, Analysis, Reports, Newsletters, Buyer-Trader Information, Import/Export Analysis all through its new proprietary product ValoTracer. For more information, please visit http://www.cnchemicals.com.

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Glyphosate Potassium Salt Needs Further Promotion in China

Glyphosate potassium, a product with the best theoretical performance among all glyphosate series, only dominates rather small market share in China at present, which needs further promotion in the future, according to CCM International’s July Issue of Glyphsoate China Monthly Report.

As the regulation of lowering the price of Roundup in China in H1 2012 has drawn much market concerns, it's investigated that another well-know glyphosate product Touchdown branded by Syngenta also suffers the same treatment in China. "Touchdown® is undersold in Hubei Province in China, and its wholesale price is about USD4,430/t (RMB28,000/t) at present, compared with USD6,330/t (RMB40,000/t) in the past," said Mr. Xiang, a sales representative formerly in Syngenta but now in Bayer.

 

Mr. Xiang said that the retail price of Touchdown® is about USD1.26-1.42 (RMB8-9) per bottle (250 mL), compare with more than USD1.90 (RMB12) per bottle before 2012. 

 

“Glyphosate potassium products didn't sell well in China in the past. At present, as their prices are much higher than those of other glyphosate products, its performance doesn't significantly surpass its competitors,” said Mr. Xiang.

 

Theoretically, the manufacturing cost of glyphosate potassium salt is higher than that of glyphosate IPA salt under the same content of glyphosate acid equivalent. But interestingly, the price of Touchdown® has decreased to a comparable level as Roundup®.

 

"Touchdown® is not Syngenta's focus product in China at present. Compressed by the fierce competition from domestic glyphosate AS products, coupled with the price down-regulating of Roundup®, Syngenta finally decreases the price of Touchdown®," Mr. Xiang disclosed. 

 

Theoretically, glyphosate potassium salt has two main superiorities over other glyphosate salts; the quick efficacy and the potassium supply for crops as a fertilizer are the key reasons why glyphosate potassium products have been widely used in overseas countries. Domestic academic experts and market professionals all admit these advantages of it.

 

“Basically, the target market of glyphosate potassium is the high-end users. And the popularity of glyphosate potassium products in China needs more promotion. Besides, the cost of glyphosate potassium products should decrease if players want to expand market share of these products." Mr. Xiang suggests.

 

According to Mr. Xiang, some domestic companies are launching glyphosate potassium products in China market. “The risk is obvious, and the immature market and high price will led to the little acceptability for Chinese farmers.

Only two companies including Syngenta and Zhejiang Wynca Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd. (Zhejiang Wynca) have registered glyphosate potassium products in China as of 13 July, 2012.

According to Mr. Tang, Territory Manager of Zhejiang Wynca., Zhejiang Wynca is the first domestic company to launch glyphosate potassium products in China. "Glyphosate potassium is a new product series for Zhejiang Wynca and it has been newly brought into Chinese market in 2012. The main product is 58% glyphosate potassium SG.” It's estimated that market share of Zhejiang Wynca's glyphosate potassium is very small at present.

 

"Our product is different from Syngenta's Touchdown®. Our glyphosate potassium is formulated into SG, while Touchdown® is formulated into AS. Consumers of our glyphosate potassium are high-end users," said Mr. Tang.

 

Tang emphasized that Zhejiang Wynca's glyphosate potassium is on the promotion stage at present, and the quotation to wholesalers is indefinite, depending on the trading amount. "The retail packaging is 70g per packet, which is usually priced at USD0.79 (RMB5) in retail market.”

Source: Glyphsoate China Monthly Report 1207

http://www.cnchemicals.com/Newsletter/NewsletterDetail_14.html

Content of Glyphsoate China Monthly Report 1207:

Sichuan Shuncheng to launch 150,000t/a PMIDA at the end of 2012

Sichuan Hepu's 40,000t/a IDAN project to receive additional investment from shareholders

Outage insurance indemnities of USD0.51 million will not meet Nantong Jiangshan's need of operating funds

Sichuan Fuhua keeps cost advantage through continuous technological innovation

Scientists found soil microbes may play a role in weeds' resistance to glyphosate

Overview of China's glyphosate industry in H1 2012

Enhancing profitability of glyphosate stimulates stock prices of listed glyphosate producers

Glyphosate potassium salt needs further promotion in China

Glyphosate technical price keeps uptrend in July 2012

Glyphosate technical export in May 2012: volume down 14.99% while price up 4.15% MoM

Glyphosate China Monthly Report, a monthly publication issued by CCM International on 20^th of every month, will keep track of latest dynamics, hotspots and competitiveness analysis, and forecasts on market trends of China’s glyphosate industry.

About CCM

CCM is dedicated to market research in China, Asia-Pacific Rim and global market. With a staff of more than 150 dedicated highly-educated professionals. CCM offers Market Data, Analysis, Reports, Newsletters, Buyer-Trader Information, Import/Export Analysis all through its new proprietary product ValoTracer.

For more information, please visit http://www.cnchemicals.com.

CCM International Ltd.
Guangzhou CCM Information Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
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Tel: 86-20-37616606

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Source: http://www.cnchemicals.com/PressRoom/PressRoomDetail_w_1145.html

Paraquat Won't Die in China

Regarding the governmental decision to restrict paraquat in China, which has already witnessed the official announcement since April 24, 2012, Mr. Pierre Cohadon, China Territory Head of Syngenta, released his exclusive and constructive opinions in the E-mail interview achieved by CCM International.

Background:

On April 24, 2012, three Chinese governmental departments including the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) jointly released an official announcement that all paraquat SL should be withdrawn from the whole Chinese market after July 1, 2016. And the relevant administrative sanctions (registration and production permit) of paraquat products, covering TK, SL and mixed SL, will also be stopped from that day. (Herbicides China News 1205: China takes restriction on paraquat)

(J = Journalist of Herbicides China News)

J: How does Syngenta understand the government decision of paraquat regulation in China?

Mr. Cohadon: It is important to understand that this decision is not a ban on paraquat. In fact, recognizing the significant benefits that paraquat brings to Chinese farmers and agricultural productivity, the government requests a small number of providers including Syngenta to develop alternative formulations. In its announcement, the government clearly states an intention to "keep human safety and ensure the safe production of paraquat". The steps being taken are considered to be "restrictive management measures" only.

The Chinese government has taken steps which would help address the problem of intentional paraquat abuse. In terms of suicide with paraquat, however, we consider that the issue of suicide in rural communities of China has much more complex causes rather than just the availability of farm chemicals. In our points of view, removing one means of suicide from many others is unlikely to make any impact on the overall suicide level. (Our most recent data show that paraquat was used in less than 1% of all pesticide-related suicides in China).

The decision will not have wider global implications and we fully expect that millions of growers around the world including China will continue to use paraquat safely and effectively. Paraquat will still be available in China, albeit in different formulations (if they can be developed). The product has been used safely by millions of farmers around the world for almost 50 years and is highly effective in the control of a wide spectrum of weeds. Paraquat is becoming even more important for weed control as labour shortage continues and cost increases.

The government's decision provides a phaseout of liquid formulations of paraquat for us. No new registrations of liquid paraquat (only for liquid formulations) will be allowed from mid-2014 and then there will also be a period of two years for the manufacturers to run down the stocks. It means that after mid-2016, liquid paraquat formulations will not be available in China, but other alternative formulations of paraquat can still be available, if they are developed.

J: What is Syngenta's attitude towards paraquat restriction in China?

Mr. Cohadon: Syngenta firmly believes that the safty assurance of paraquat is the key to the sustainable management of the product. We are committed to ensuring the management framework of healthy products, in order to support the safe use of paraquat, regardless of the formulation.

As mentioned just now, we consistently consider that the poisoning trait of paraquat is not the most key factor in terms of suicide with paraquat. Suicide in rural communities in China has much more complex causes rather than merely the availability of farm chemicals. Removing one means of suicide from many others can't cure the self-harm problem.

We also believe that it is very important for farmers to have access to this important product. The product has been popular in the world for almost 50 years, and it will still contribute much to the control of a wide spectrum of weeds.

J: What measures Syngenta is going to take in the face of this regulation?

Mr. Cohadon: Syngenta, together with other members of the China Paraquat Stewardship Alliance Working Group (CPSAWG) led by the China Crop Protection Industry Association (CCPIA), fulfill the commitments towards MOA and ICAMA to ensure that millions of Chinese farmers have safe access to the best available technology.

We will continue to work closely with the government as we look at the viability of developing alternative formulations. Developing alternatives that are both safe and economically feasible will be challenging.

The access to technology is crucial for maximizing productivity and it can help the Chinese government achieve its stated objective of 95% food self sufficiency. We are also committed to working with the multitude of stakeholders to minimize the risk of paraquat abuse.

All member companies of the CPSAWG are committed to strengthening overall management of the product.

Key interventions include:

1. Stringent adherence to National Quality Standards and the FAO Specifications for paraquat

It would assure the quality of product available in the market including sufficient amount of emetic and olfactory stench (as an alerting agent). Moreover, strong enforcement against off-spec products would help reduce inappropriate access via volume control.

2. Extensive training for growers and users in safe and responsible use of agrochemicals

In cooperation with the National Agro-Tech Extension Service Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture (NATESC), Syngenta China conducts training projects in over 20 provinces.

About two million farmers have been given training since the launch of the program in 2000 and such training will be extended to bring about general improvement in agricultural practices of all agrochemicals. The training will have a specific focus on safe storage practices, such as distribution and promotion of lockable boxes, so as to reduce inappropriate access for impulsive acts. 

Surveys carried out since 2004 by independent market researchers and published in peer reviewed journals in 2008 and 2009 have revealed that over half of nearly 9,000 knapsack users applying crop protection products in 26 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America received information or training on safe use in the past several years. The findings indicate that those with recent training are reported fewer incidents.

3. Broaden training to frontline medical professionals on better diagnosis and treatment of poisoning incidents.

This will result in improved intervention treatment—an important area often highlighted by international suicide prevention experts. Treatment guidelines, urine test kits and treatment aides such as activated charcoal are also distributed to trained medical professionals at clinics and hospitals to facilitate effective diagnosis and treatment of patients.

4. Establishment of an Adverse Health Incident (AHI) Management System and Database

To complement enhanced medical training, CPSAWG member companies have established a common AHI management system and database that can be accessed 24 hours toll free via a telephone hotline (the number of which will be printed on product labels). This will further ensure prompt medical advice to be given to primary care health providers, especially those in rural areas. The data collated will also provide a reliable benchmark on the effectiveness of the management measures.

With these undertakings, Syngenta along with other members of the CPSAWG are confident that the comprehensive Stewardship Plan will contribute significantly towards the MOA's and ICAMA's objectives—managing product abuse while ensuring that Chinese farmers have access to the best possible technology to maximize their productivity.

J: How does Syngenta consider the emerging market of China?

Mr. Cohadon: China is an important market for Syngenta and we remain committed to developing our business here.

China feeds 20% of the global population with just 7% of the world's arable land. The government is committed to improving agricultural productivity, which will be well supported by reforms in the seed and crop protection industries.

And Syngenta is committed to supporting the government in achieving its objectives for agriculture. We are working on this through introducing the best possible technology with integrated offers that are innovative and can be applied on a large scale. Through integration and innovation, we are confident that we can help Chinese agriculture outperform and meet the government's ambitious objectives for food security.

Thank Syngenta for the contribution to this article, and some of the content was edited jointly by Syngenta and CCM International.

(Relative discussions about paraquat restriction in China were mentioned separately in Herbicides China News 1109: Worries about paraquat aroused in China, issue 1202: Sensible supervision better than blind restriction on paraquat and issue 1205: China takes restriction on paraquat.)

Source: Herbicides China News 1206

http://www.cnchemicals.com/Newsletter/NewsletterDetail_11.html

Content of Herbicides China News 1206:

Paraquat won't die in China

Huayang Group wants to quit from Huayang Technology

Jiangsu Jiannong seeks boom in ABA Chemicals

Yifan Biotechnology gains formal clodinafop-propargyl registration

Lianshui Yongan upgrades pendimethalin manufacture

Good Harvest-Weien gets 1st formal ethofumesate registration in China

State-owned enterprises lead pesticide integration

Quiet Battle between Roundup and Chinese glyphosate

Diquat capacity to increase in China

Trifluralin sales slacks in June

Sevencontinent Green welcomes metribuzin sales tide

Glufosinate-ammonium supply intense

Glyphosate meets normal supply in Biok K.P.

Herbicide price remains flat this June

… …

Herbicides China News, a monthly publication issued by CCM International on 15^th of every month, provides you with the latest occurrences, exclusive analysis on the market trend as well as professional reviews on competitiveness of companies, products and relative industries in China’s herbicide industry.

About CCM

CCM is dedicated to market research in China, Asia-Pacific Rim and global market. With a staff of more than 150 dedicated highly-educated professionals. CCM offers Market Data, Analysis, Reports, Newsletters, Buyer-Trader Information, Import/Export Analysis all through its new proprietary product ValoTracer.

For more information, please visit http://www.cnchemicals.com.

CCM International Ltd.
Guangzhou CCM Information Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
17th Floor, Huihua Commercial & Trade Mansion, No.80 Xianlie Zhong Road, Guangzhou 510070, China

Tel: 86-20-37616606

Email: econtact@cnchemicals.com

Source: http://www.cnchemicals.com/PressRoom/PressRoomDetail_w_1109.html

Sensible Supervision Better than Blind Restriction on Paraquat

Paraquat is a very common herbicide in the world, but its fatal poisoning trait always arouses great concerns in the whole pesticide industry. Especially triggered by the suggestion from chemical experts of UN that paraquat dichlorid should become subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure of The Rotterdam Convention, which was mentioned in March 2011, an explosive rumor about probable restriction on paraquat by the Chinese government spreads like wildfire, and shakes every paraquat player in China, according to CCM International’s February Issue of Herbicides China News.

Because of the frequent occurrence of paraquat poisoning deaths in China these years, the Chinese government expresses concern currently. And related governmental departments are working hard to enhance the supervision on paraquat management. Some officials from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) also pointed out that the government might take further restrictions on some pesticides in the near future, including paraquat, but no active policies has come out up to now in China.

In terms of paraquat pursuers in China, they have a great concern for the government's action towards paraquat because their future strategies about paraquat will be impacted by relative policies to some degree. In public, also, paraquat management in China has been disputed frequently. One opinion is to develop a new herbicide substitute for paraquat, and paraquat should be forbidden in the meantime in the wake of its sharp poisoning trait.

Regarding the dispute about whether paraquat should be forbidden or not in China, CCM International has discussed with Syngenta by E-mail, the largest paraquat player in the world at present. In the interview, Syngenta  expressed its exclusive viewpoints.

(J = Journalist of Herbicides China News, S = Syngenta)

J: Regarding recent rumor that China might take action to restrict paraquat, what is your opinion?

S: Syngenta welcomes the key elements of the proposal by MOA / ICAMA which focus on the stewardship. And Syngenta has an active dialogue with other producers in an effort to improve stewardship through the Paraquat Product Stewardship WorkGroup. We firmly believe that stewardship is a key to the safe use of the product. Thus we have invested in the safe use of paraquat in China through stewardship for many years, farmer support programs, and high quality formulations and packaging.

However, the restriction on paraquat in China should be considered carefully. The regrettable social phenomenon of suicide in rural communities of China has much more complex causes than the availability of farm chemicals. Removing one means of suicide from many others will not have any effect on the root causes of self-harm and is unlikely to make any impact on overall suicide levels. In fact, Syngenta's recent data show that paraquat is used in less than 1% of all pesticide-related suicides in China.

J: What's your suggestion about the stewardship of paraquat suicide in China?

S: The approach of a stewardship plan to manage the issue of suicide through ingestion of agricultural chemicals must involve multi stakeholders (e.g.: health, education, media and agriculture) and be on multi levels (regional, national and global). A comprehensive plan would include the management of access to the product, limitation of media publicity accompanied with the excessive reading of the product and the medical treatment improvement of poisoning.

China should strengthen the supervision of pesticide products as much as possible. For example, the package of liquid paraquat formulation nowadays should be improved—it should be packed in plastic bottle with thin bottleneck so that the liquid outflow time can be prolonged. Besides, liquid paraquat formulation can be changed to non-liquid paraquat formulation in public's advice, such as solid paraquat or powder-like paraquat.

Development of alternative formulations of paraquat will not be an easy or straightforward task as any alternative formulation would have to meet first and foremost the criteria of safety in normal use, as well as practical application and farmer affordability, whilst ensuring that the product continues to represent a viable business for manufacturers, its distributors and end-users.

Postscript from CCM International:

Statistics from CCM International show that there are more than 200 pesticide producers with paraquat production certificates in China. If paraquat was restricted in China, these enterprises will encounter great challenges and difficulties. The economic benefits that paraquat has brought to these enterprises and Chinese agriculture will vanish. Since paraquat is widely used in China, it is difficult to find a proper alternative and effective product to replace paraquat in a short time.

As a widely-used and eco-friendly herbicide with high efficiency, paraquat is still irreplaceable at present. As a non-selective herbicide with so many years' promotion, paraquat has witnessed fast development in the past decades in China, and has been playing an increasingly important role in weed control of orchards, corn fields, no-tillage fields and mulberry fields. China is the largest manufacturer of paraquat technical and formulations in the world.

According to the market report of Production and Market of Paraquat in China published by CCM International, as of May 2011, the paraquat technical capacity in China has reached 150,000t/a (calculated by 42% technical), maintaining the oversupply situation while the output of paraquat technical reached 120,000 tonnes in 2010 with the operating rate of 80%.

In accordance with CCM International's survey, the output of China's paraquat formulations has also grown very fast from more than 40,000 tonnes in 2006 to nearly 80,000 tonnes in 2010, with the average annual growth rate of 20%, which is mainly attributed to the rapid growth of domestic and overseas demand for paraquat during this period.

Thank Syngenta for contribution in this article and some contents were edited by Syngenta

(Similar report is mentioned in Herbicides China News 1109: Worries about paraquat aroused in China and Herbicides China News 0911: Controversy on paraquat poisoning: restricted or banned?)

Source: Herbicides China News 1202

http://www.cnchemicals.com/Newsletter/NewsletterDetail_11.html

Content of Herbicides China News 1202:

Sensible supervision better than blind restriction on paraquat

Huapont plans to invest in Brazilian market

Jiangsu Kuaida upgrades by relocation

Jiangsu Huifeng to meet expiration of diflufenican registration

Kunshan Raiser relocates into Binhai Industry Park

Glyphosate regulation in environmental protection enhanced

New tries in other industries become a trend

EU withdraws approval in acetochlor registration

Four export-oriented herbicides registered initially in H2 2011

Shandong Tianyuansen explores pyridine production

Sanonda to launch 2,4-D business

Jiangsu Changqing meets intense fomesafen supply

Shandong Yuhuang slacks its 75,000t/a EA project

Price Review in Feb. 2012

Glyphosate price remains stable in Feb.

Herbicides China News, a monthly publication issued by CCM International on 15^th of every month, provides you with the latest occurrences, exclusive analysis on the market trend as well as professional reviews on competitiveness of companies, products and relative industries in China’s herbicide industry.

About CCM

CCM is dedicated to market research in China, Asia-Pacific Rim and global market. With a staff of more than 150 dedicated highly-educated professionals. CCM offers Market Data, Analysis, Reports, Newsletters, Buyer-Trader Information, Import/Export Analysis all through its new proprietary product ValoTracer.

For more information, please visit http://www.cnchemicals.com.

CCM International Ltd.
Guangzhou CCM Information Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
17th Floor, Huihua Commercial & Trade Mansion, No.80 Xianlie Zhong Road, Guangzhou 510070, China

Tel: 86-20-37616606

Email: econtact@cnchemicals.com

Source: http://www.cnchemicals.com/PressRoom/PressRoomDetail_w_984.html