Measures for the Administration of Pesticide Registration

(As amended by Order No. 3 of 2025 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, on July 15, 2025)

(Originally promulgated as Order No. 3 of 2017 of the Ministry of Agriculture on June 21, 2017; revised by Order No. 2 of 2018 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on December 6, 2018, by Order No. 1 of 2022 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on January 7, 2022, and by Order No. 3 of 2025 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on July 15, 2025)

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1

These Measures are formulated in accordance with the Regulations on Pesticide Administrations to regulate pesticide registration activities, strengthen the administration of pesticide registration, and ensure the safety and efficacy of pesticides.

Article 2

Pesticides produced, distributed or used within the territory of the People’s Republic of China shall be registered.

Pesticides for which no pesticide registration certificate has been obtained in accordance with the law shall be treated as counterfeit pesticides.

Article 3

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall be responsible for the nationwide administration of pesticide registration, organize the establishment of the Pesticide Registration Review Committee, and formulate rules for pesticide registration review.

The institution responsible for pesticide control under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall undertake the specific work of pesticide registration nationwide.

Article 4

The agricultural and rural authorities of provincial-level people’s governments (hereinafter referred to as “provincial agricultural and rural authorities”) shall accept pesticide registration applications within their respective administrative regions, review the application materials, and provide preliminary technical review conclusions.

The institutions responsible for pesticide verification under provincial agricultural and rural authorities (hereinafter referred to as “provincial pesticide control institutions”) shall assist in the specific work of pesticide registration.

Article 5

Pesticide registration shall follow the principles of science, fairness, impartiality, efficiency and public convenience.

Article 6

The state encourages and supports the registration of safe, efficacious and cost-effective pesticides, and accelerates the elimination of pesticides with high risks to agricultural and forestry production, human and animal safety, agricultural product quality and safety, and the ecological environment.

Chapter II Basic Requirements

Article 7

Pesticide names shall use the Chinese common name or simplified Chinese common name of the pesticide. The name of a botanical pesticide may be indicated by the plant name plus “extract”. The name of a ready-to-use public-health pesticide shall be indicated by a functional description plus formulation.

Article 8

The active ingredient content and formulation of pesticides shall be determined in line with the principles of improving quality, protecting the environment and promoting sustainable agricultural development. The formulation of a product shall be scientific, rational and easy to use.

For single formulated products with the same active ingredient and formulation type, there shall be no more than three content gradients.

A pre-mix formulation shall contain no more than two active ingredients; herbicides and seed treatment agents may contain no more than three active ingredients. For pre-mix formulations with the same active ingredients and formulation type, there shall be no more than three ratioses, and no more than three total content gradients for the same ratio. Pesticides with low active ingredient content for direct use without dilution or dispersion shall be classified separately.

Products such as pheromones for attraction or mating disruption shall be registered based on their main active ingredients.

Specific requirements for the types of active ingredients and content gradients of formulated products shall be separately formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Article 9

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall timely issue and adjust the list and limits of prohibited and restricted co-formulants according to their toxicity and hazard properties.

If a specified co-formulants is required for use, corresponding test data shall be submitted when applying for pesticide registration.

Article 10

The dilution ratio or use concentration of a pesticide product shall match the application technology.

Article 11

The relevant data or materials submitted by the applicant shall meet the needs of risk assessment, and the product shall be comparable to or clearly superior to, registered products in terms of safety and efficacy.

When reviewing an applied product and needing to refer to the risk assessment results of registered products, the maximum risk principle shall be followed.

Article 12

The applicant shall submit relevant materials in accordance with the provisions and be responsible for the authenticity and legality of the materials provided.

Chapter III Application and Acceptance

Article 13

The applicant shall be a pesticide production enterprise, an enterprise exporting pesticides to China, or a new pesticide developer.

A pesticide production enterprise refers to a domestic enterprise that has obtained a pesticide production license. An enterprise exporting pesticides to China (hereinafter referred to as an overseas enterprise) refers to an enterprise that exports pesticides produced overseas to China. A new pesticide developer refers to a Chinese citizen, legal person or other organization that develops new pesticides within the territory of China.

For a new pesticide jointly developed by multiple entities, one entity shall be clearly designated as the applicant, with other cooperative institutions stated and supporting materials for the homogeneity of relevant test samples provided. No other entity may file a duplicate application.

Article 14

If the applicant is a legal person or other organization, it shall designate a special person to handle pesticide registration applications.

A domestic applicant shall file a pesticide registration application with the local provincial agricultural and rural authorities. An overseas enterprise shall file a pesticide registration application with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Article 15

The applicant shall submit application materials including chemical, toxicological, efficacy, residue and environmental impact test reports, risk assessment reports, sample labels or manuals, product safety data sheets, relevant literature, application form, applicant qualification certificate, and statement of authenticity of materials.

If entrusting another entity or individual to handle pesticide registration, a power of attorney signed or sealed by both parties shall also be submitted, specifying the agent’s name, entrusted matters, authority, etc.

Pesticide registration application materials shall be true, standardized, complete and valid; specific requirements shall be separately formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Article 16

Registration test reports shall be issued by registration test Facilities recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, or by overseas test facilities with mutual recognition agreements signed with relevant Chinese government departments. However, efficacy, residue, environmental impact tests and other tests closely related to local conditions, as well as registration studies on endemic species in China, shall be completed within the territory of China.

Article 17

An application for registration of a new pesticide shall simultaneously submit applications for registration of the new pesticide technical material (TC) and the new pesticide formulation, and provide pesticide analytical standard.

Article 18

For a pesticide containing a new compound granted first registration, within six years from the date of registration, any other applicant applying for registration of a pesticide containing the same new compound shall obtain authorization from the registration holder to use the complete registration data, unless the applicant submits data obtained by itself.

Where another applicant submits self-obtained data to apply for registration of the pesticide mentioned in the preceding paragraph, it shall handle the application in accordance with Article 17 of these Measures.

Article 19

Where registration data are transferred in accordance with Article 14 of the Regulations on the Administration of Pesticides, the transferee shall apply for pesticide registration with the following materials:

(1) Transfer contract signed by both parties;

(2) Relevant registration data supplemented and completed in accordance with pesticide registration data requirements;

(3) Application for cancellation of the corresponding registration certificate by the original registration holder.

Article 20

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs or provincial agricultural and rural authorities shall handle the application materials submitted by the applicant as follows:

(1) If pesticide registration is not required, immediately inform the applicant that the application is not accepted;

(2) If there are errors in the application materials, allow the applicant to correct them on the spot;

(3) If the application materials are incomplete or do not meet the statutory form, inform the applicant on the spot or within five working days of all content to be supplemented or corrected; if no notification is given within the time limit, the application shall be deemed accepted as of the date of receipt of the materials;

(4) If the application materials are complete and meet the statutory form, or the applicant submits all supplementary or corrected materials as required, accept the application.

Chapter IV Review and Decision

Article 21

Provincial agricultural and rural authorities shall conduct a preliminary review of the materials submitted by the applicant within 20 working days from the date of acceptance, provide preliminary technical review conclusions, and directly submit the preliminary technical review conclusions and all application materials to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs within five working days.

If the application fails the preliminary review, the provincial agricultural and rural authorities may, at the applicant’s request, notify the applicant in writing and explain the reasons.

Article 22

After accepting an application or receiving the application materials and preliminary technical review conclusions submitted by provincial agricultural and rural authorities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall organize its affiliated pesticide control institution to complete technical review of product chemistry, toxicology, efficacy, residue, environmental impact, sample labels, etc. within nine months, and submit the review opinions to the Pesticide Registration Review Committee.

If the pesticide control institution of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs finds minor defects in the application materials during technical review that require supplementation, it may require the applicant to supplement relevant materials within five working days; such period shall not be counted into the review period.

Article 23

After receiving the technical review opinions, the Pesticide Registration Review Committee shall put forward review opinions in accordance with the pesticide registration review rules.

Article 24

After a pesticide registration application is accepted and before technical review begins, the applicant may withdraw the application and reapply after supplementing relevant materials.

Based on the opinions of the Pesticide Registration Review Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs may require the applicant to supplement materials within a specified time.

Article 25

If it is considered during registration review and evalsuation that the test data submitted by the applicant need verification, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs may organize verification tests and inform the applicant of the time required.

Article 26

For a product whose registration application was not approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the applicant may apply to use the corresponding registration data previously submitted when reapplying; specific requirements shall be separately prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Article 27

During registration review and evalsuation, the type of registration application and the applicable technical requirements and approval procedures shall not change due to the issuance of a pesticide registration certificate to another applicant during the same period.

After a new pesticide is approved, other pending new pesticide registration applications may continue to be reviewed and evalsuated in accordance with new pesticide approval procedures. Other applicants may also withdraw the application and file a new registration application.

Article 28

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall make an approval decision within 20 working days from the date of receiving the review opinions. If the requirements are met, a pesticide registration certificate shall be issued; if not, the applicant shall be notified in writing with reasons stated.

Article 29

The format of pesticide registration certificates shall be uniformly formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Chapter V Alteration and Renewal

Article 30

A pesticide registration certificate is valid for five years.

Article 31

Where a registration holder changes its name or undergoes merger or division and needs to replace the registration certificate, it shall apply to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs within 30 days from the date of the change and submit relevant supporting materials.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall complete the review within 20 working days from the date of accepting the application; if the requirements are met, a new certificate shall be issued.

Article 32

During the validity period of a pesticide registration certificate, the holder shall apply to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for alteration in any of the following circumstances:

(1) Changing the scope of use, application method or dosage;

(2) Changing components other than active ingredients;

(3) Changing the product toxicity category;

(4) Changing the active ingredient content of a technical material (TC);

(5) Changing the product quality specification;

(6) Other circumstances prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Article 33

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall complete the review of registration alteration within six months, prepare technical review conclusions, submit them to the Pesticide Registration Review Committee, and make an approval decision within 20 working days from the date of receiving the committee’s opinions. If the requirements are met, the alteration shall be approved with the certificate number and validity period unchanged; if not, the applicant shall be notified in writing with reasons stated.

Article 34

To continue producing or exporting pesticides to China upon expiration of the registration certificate, the holder shall apply for renewal to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs 90 days prior to expiration. An application submitted after the deadline shall be processed as a new registration.

Article 35

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall review the renewal application materials and make a decision before expiration. If potential safety or efficacy hazards or risks are identified during review, the application shall be submitted to the Pesticide Registration Review Committee for evalsuation.

Chapter VI Risk Monitoring and evalsuation

Article 36

Agricultural and rural authorities at or above the provincial level shall establish a pesticide safety risk monitoring system, and organize pesticide control institutions and plant protection institutions to monitor and evalsuate the safety and efficacy of registered pesticides.

Article 37

Monitoring items include impacts on agricultural and forestry production, human and animal safety, agricultural product quality and safety, ecological environment, etc.

evalsuation shall be organized in any of the following circumstances:

(1) Multiple crop phytotoxicity incidents occur;

(2) Significant increase in target pest resistance;

(3) Repeated exceedances of pesticide residue limits in agricultural products;

(4) Multiple hazards to non-target organisms such as bees, birds, fish, silkworms, shrimp, crabs and natural enemies;

(5) Adverse impacts on groundwater, surface water or soil;

(6) Health hazards to pesticide users, exposed populations, livestock and poultry.

Provincial agricultural and rural authorities shall promptly report monitoring and evalsuation results to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Article 38

Pesticide registration holders shall collect and analyze changes in the safety and efficacy of pesticide products and report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in a timely manner; product recalls and pesticide use accidents shall be promptly reported to local agricultural and rural authorities.

Article 39

For pesticide products registered for more than 15 years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall organize periodic evalsuations based on production, use and industrial policy changes, with results serving as an important basis for renewal review.

Periodic evalsuation mainly includes:

(1) Target pest resistance;

(2) Crop safety;

(3) Agricultural product quality and safety;

(4) Human and animal health safety;

(5) Beneficial organism safety and ecological impact.

Article 40

If a registered pesticide is found to pose serious hazards or significant risks to agricultural and forestry production, human and animal safety, agricultural product quality and safety, or ecological environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall organize the Pesticide Registration Review Committee for evalsuation, revoke or alter the corresponding registration certificate based on the evalsuation results, and if necessary, decide to ban or restrict use and announce it to the public.

Chapter VII Supervision and Administration

Article 41

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs or provincial agricultural and rural authorities shall not accept or approve a pesticide registration application in any of the following circumstances:

(1) The authenticity, completeness or standardization of application materials fails to meet requirements;

(2) The applicant does not meet the qualification requirements specified in Article 13;

(3) The applicant is listed as a seriously untrustworthy entity by relevant state authorities and restricted from obtaining administrative licenses;

(4) The applied pesticide is prohibited from production, distribution or use by relevant state authorities or no longer eligible for new registration by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs;

(5) Registration studies do not comply with Articles 9 and 10 of the Regulations on the Administration of Pesticides;

(6) Other circumstances that shall not be accepted or approved.

Article 42

Whoever conceals relevant information or submits false registration data or test samples shall be rejected or denied approval, given a warning, and no pesticide registration application filed by the applicant or its agent shall be accepted within one year.

Whoever obtains pesticide registration by fraud, bribery or other improper means shall have its registration certificate revoked;  The agricultural and rural authority at or above the county level may impose a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan but not more than 100,000 yuan on the applicant and its agent respectively, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs or the provincial agricultural and rural authorities shall not accept their pesticide registration applications within three years.

Article 43

For submitting false materials and test samples, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall record the applicant’s illegal information in the credit file and publish it.

Article 44

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall cancel and announce the cancellation of a pesticide registration certificate in any of the following circumstances:

(1) Failure to apply for renewal upon expiration;

(2) The registration holder is terminated or no longer meets applicant qualifications in accordance with the law;

(3) The registration holder has been issued a new registration certificate for its  name change, merger or division;

(4) The pesticide registration data have been legally transferred;

(5) Other circumstances where the registration certificate shall be canceled in accordance with the law.

Article 45

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall establish a pesticide administration information platform and regularly publish information on the issuance, renewal, amendament, revocation and cancellation of pesticide registration certificates, as well as relevant product quality specification numbers, maximum residue limits or recommended values, test methods, approved labels, etc.

Article 46

Members of the Pesticide Registration Review Committee who seek improper interests during registration review shall be dismissed from the committee by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; if they are state functionaries, they shall be referred to relevant authorities for sanctions; if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law.

Article 47

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, provincial agricultural and rural authorities and their registration staff shall perform duties in accordance with the law, put forward review opinions scientifically, objectively and impartially, and maintain confidentiality of submitted registration data and unpublished review results. Anyone with a conflict of interest regarding the applicant or its products/date shall withdraw; participation in pesticide production or distribution activities is prohibited.

Article 48

Pesticide registration staff who fail to perform duties in accordance with the law, abuse power, engage in corruption, solicit or accept property or seek other interests shall be sanctioned in accordance with the law and shall not engage in pesticide registration work within five years from the date of sanction.

Article 49

Any entity or individual that finds violations of these Measures has the right to report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs or provincial agricultural and rural authorities, which shall promptly verify and handle the report and keep the informant’s information confidential. Those whose reports are verified true and play a positive role in production safety or recover significant losses shall be commended or rewarded in accordance with relevant state provisions.

Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions

Article 50

Pesticide registration for specialty minor crops shall be administered under registration for crop group-based use expansion. The scope of specialty and minor crops shall be prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

For specialty and minor crops or new harmful organisms with no registered pesticides available, provincial agricultural and rural authorities may adopt temporary pesticide use measures based on local conditions under the premise of controllable risks and file them with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Article 51

The terms used in these Measures are defined as follows:

(1)   “New pesticide” means a pesticide containing active ingredient(s)that have not yet been registered in China, including new pesticide technical material (TC) or technical concentrate (TK) and new pesticide formulations.

(2) “Technical material (TC)” means a product consisting of the active ingredient and related impurities obtained during the production process, to which a small amount of additives may be added if necessary.

(3) “Technical concentrate (TK)” means a product consisting of the active ingredient and related impurities obtained during the production process, which may contain a small amount of necessary additives and appropriate diluents.

(4) “Formulation” means a stable pesticide product processed from pesticide technical material (TC) or technical concentrate (TK) and suitable adjuvants, or produced by methods such as biological fermentation, plant extraction, etc.

(5) “Co-formulant” means any single or multiple components added to pesticide products excluding active ingredients, which have no pesticidal activity or active ingredient function themselves but can improve or help improve the physical and chemical properties of pesticide products.

Article 52

The administration of registration for pesticides for overseas use only shall be separately prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Article 53

These Measures shall come into force on August 1, 2017.

Temporary pesticide registration certificates issued before June 1, 2017 shall not be renewed upon expiration. Pending registration applications accepted before that date shall be handled in accordance with the Regulations on Pesticide Administration.

Note: This English translation is provided for reference only and does not constitute an official translation. In case of any discrepancy, the Chinese text shall prevail.