CCPIA releases Green Enhancement Action Plan for the Pesticide Industry

In early December 2023, to promote the green andhigh-quality development of the pesticide industry, the China Crop ProtectionIndustry Association (CCPIA) formulated the Green Enhancement Action Plan for the Pesticide Industry.

Background:Since 2023, China's pesticide industry has been facing a severe situation ofdownward pressure and a sharp decline in benefits. Meanwhile, the duplicatedconstruction of pesticide projects remains serious in recent years due tofactors such as the relocation of pesticide companies and the increase of newinvestment.

Overalltarget: By the end of 2025, the level of green manufacturing in the pesticideindustry will be improved significantly. China’s pesticide green manufacturinglevel and international competitiveness will be improved through the radiationeffect and application demonstration of the green and safe and continuousproduction technology of pesticide commodities.

Majortasks:

1.       Tostrengthen industry self-discipline and eliminate backward production capacity. Atpresent, it is an important way to resolve the overcapacity by effectivelycontrolling the supply of production capacity. For major varieties, we should buildan industry self-discipline mechanism and effectively control the supply.

2.       Toimprove the clean and continuous production technology. Weshould establish and improve the evaluation system of pesticide cleaningproduction, formulate the production index evaluation system of commodities,and release a number of green production technologies.

3.       To improveproduct quality. We should encourage enterprises to optimize theirproduction process, improve the quality of pesticide products, formulate groupstandards with higher requirements than national and industry standards, andactively participate in the formulation of FAO/WHO pesticide internationalstandards.

4.       Tobuild green pesticide factories. Green pesticide plants should meet thecomprehensive requirements of infrastructure, management system, energy andresource investment, product, environmental discharge, and performance underthe premise of ensuring product functions, quality, and safety, and improvingthe level of green manufacturing.

Specifictasks and expected results

1.       To prepare the Early Warning Report of theKey Pesticide Products.

2.       For commodities with severe overcapacity such asGlyphosate, Glufosinate-ammonium, and Chlorantraniliprole, self-disciplineinspections should be organized to effectively control production capacity andactively eliminate backward production capacity. Besides, we should compilereports such as the Glyphosate Industry Development Report, the Glufosinate-ammoniumIndustry Development Report, and the Chlorantraniliprole IndustryDevelopment Report.

3.       To formulate and publish clean productionevaluation system standards for products including Glufosinate-ammonium,Chlorantraniliprole, Tebuconazole, Nicosulfuron, Chlorothalonil, Mesotrione,and Clethodim; to release green production technologies such as thealternatives of a number of toxic and harmful substances (solvents), enzymecatalysis, and the complete set of the reactor refined technologies; and tocollect and release advanced continuous flow technology of hazardous processsuch as nitrification, chloride, oxidation, and hydrogenation.

4.       To encourage enterprises to take the EvaluationSpecifications for Green Factory of Pesticide Industry as a benchmark,including evaluation specifications for TC, ferment TC, and formulations; andto build a number of green pesticide factories.

5.       To formulate and release group standards forproducts such as Glufosinate-Ammonium SL, Chlorantraniliprole + ThiamethoxamWG, ammonium sulfite, which is the by-product of Glufosinate-Ammonium, and theby-product of Dicamba, Sodium Chloride; and help enterprises to formulate FAOinternational standards for products such as Glufosinate-Ammonium, Prothioconazole,and Tembotrione.

Schedule:

1.       By the end of April 2024, mobilize pesticideenterprises to implement the green improvement action plan;

2.       From April 2024 to November 2025, implement the greenimprovement action plan;

3.       By the end of December 2025, release the resultsof the green improvement action plan.

Guaranteeprecautions

1.       To strengthenorganizational coordination. The association will set up a special workgroup for green promotion to be responsible for coordinating and coordinatingglobal work, and promoting the implementation of the action plan. For differenttasks, technical consulting groups will be set up to provide technical supportfor the implementation of the action plan.

2.       To strengthenstandard formulation. Carry out the construction of relevantstandards for greening production in the pesticide industry, study and formulategroup standards with requirements stricter than national and local standards,and assist enterprises to participate in the formulation of internationalstandards.

3.       To strengthenpublicity and promotion. Using the industry publicity platform topublicly release the Green Process List of the Pesticide Industry and the GreenFactory List of the Pesticide Industry to the society; to provide technicalguidance for enterprises in the selection of technology for new projects and technicalupgrading projects; to support the policy orientation of government andfinancial institutions, and apply for special funds from the government forclean production, energy conservation, and emission reduction.