Introduction
On July 15, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MoA) of the People's Republic of China issued the revised Measures for the Administration of the Pesticide Registration. This updated regulation is set to officially enter into force on January 1, 2026. This update aims to further standardize registration behaviors, clarify data protection rights, and strengthen post-registration supervision.
The guide provides a detailed comparison of the differences between the 2025 revised version and the 2017 version of the Measures for the Administration of the Pesticide Registration.
Key Changes
Change 1: Article 8
2017
The content of active ingredient and formulation of a pesticide shall be determined in the principles of improving quality, protecting the environment and promoting the sustainable development of agriculture.
The formulas of formulated products shall be scientific, reasonable and convenient for use. For a single formulation with the same active ingredient and formulation type, the contents of active ingredients shall be no more than three. There should be no more than two kinds of active ingredients in the pesticide ready-mixture, and no more than three kinds of active ingredients in herbicide, seed treatment, and pheromones; for ready-mixtures with the same active ingredients and formulation type, the ratio shall be no more than three, and the content gradients of the same ratio shall be no more than three. Pesticides with a low content of active ingredients that are directly used other than through dilution or dispersing shall be classified separately. Specific relevant requirements will be developed separately by the Ministry of Agriculture.
2025
The content of active ingredient and formulation of a pesticide shall be determined in the principles of improving quality, protecting the environment and promoting the sustainable development of agriculture. The formulas of formulated products shall be scientific, reasonable and convenient for use.
For a single formulation with the same active ingredient and formulation type, the contents of active ingredients shall be no more than three.
There should be no more than two kinds of active ingredients in the pesticide ready-mixture, and no more than three kinds of active ingredients in herbicide and seed treatment. For ready-mixtures with the same active ingredients and formulation type, the ratio shall be no more than three, and the content gradients of the same ratio shall be no more than three. Pesticides with a low content of active ingredients that are directly used other than through dilution or dispersing shall be classified separately.
Pheromones and other attractant or mating disruption products shall be registered according to the main active ingredients.
Specific requirements for the types of active ingredients and content gradients of formulated products will be developed separately by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Change 2: Article 14
2017:
A domestic applicant shall apply for pesticide registration to the agricultural authority at the provincial level where it is located. An overseas enterprise shall apply for pesticide registration at the Ministry of Agriculture.
2025:
Where the applicant is a legal person or other organization, a specialized person from the entity shall be designated to be responsible for pesticide registration application related work.
A domestic applicant shall apply for pesticide registration to the agricultural authority at the provincial level where it is located. An overseas enterprise shall apply for pesticide registration at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Change 3: Article 15
2017:
The applicant shall submit product chemistry, toxicity, efficacy, residue, environmental impact as well as testing reports, a risk assessment report, samples of labels or instructions, product safety data sheet, relevant literature, application form, applicant qualification certificate, data authenticity declaration, and other applicant materials.
The pesticide application materials shall be authentic, standard, complete and valid, and specific requirements will be separately established by the Ministry of Agriculture.
2025:
The applicant shall submit product chemistry, toxicity, efficacy, residue, environmental impact as well as testing reports, a risk assessment report, samples of labels or instructions, product safety data sheet, relevant literature, application form, applicant qualification certificate, data authenticity declaration, and other applicant materials.
Where other companies or individuals are entrusted to handle pesticide registration business, a power of attorney signed or stamped by both parties shall also be submitted. The power of attorney shall state the name of the agent, the entrusted matters, and the scope of authority.
The pesticide application materials shall be authentic, standard, complete and valid, and specific requirements will be separately established by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Change 4: Article 17, Paragraph 2
2017:
Within six years upon registration of the new pesticide, where other applicants submit applications with the data obtained by themselves or authorized by the new pesticide registration certificate holder, it shall be deemed as a new pesticide registration application.
2025:
[Deleted]
Change 5: Article 18
2017:
The complete registration data consistent with the registration data requirements and owned independently by the pesticide registration certificate holder may be used by other applicants if so authorized.
Where the pesticide registration data is transferred according to Article 14 of the Regulations on the Management of Pesticides, the transferee shall apply for pesticide registration by virtue of the transfer contract between the parties and the registration data consistent with registration data requirements.
2025:
For pesticides that have obtained initial registration and contain new compounds, within six years from the date of registration, if other applicants apply for the registration of pesticides containing such new compounds, they shall obtain authorization for the complete registration data from the first registered certificate holder, except where they submit data obtained by themselves.
Where other applicants submit data obtained by themselves to apply for the pesticide registration mentioned in the preceding paragraph, it shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of Article 17 of these Measures.
Change 6: Adding Article 19 in 2025 Version
2025:
Where the pesticide registration data is transferred according to Article 14 of the Regulations on the Management of Pesticides, the transferee shall apply for pesticide registration by virtue of the following materials:
The transfer contract between both parties;
Relevant registration data supplemented and improved according to the requirements for pesticide registration data;
The application from the original pesticide registration certificate holder to cancel the corresponding registration certificate.
Change 7
2017 Article 20:
The agricultural authorities at the provincial level shall perform a preliminary evaluation of the data submitted by an applicant within twenty working days upon acceptance of such application, give opinions of the preliminary evaluation, and report to the Ministry of Agriculture. If not qualified following the preliminary evaluation, a written notice indicating the reasons will be given to the applicant in accordance with the will of the applicant.
2025 Article 21:
The agricultural and rural affairs authorities at the provincial level shall perform a preliminary evaluation of the data submitted by an applicant within twenty working days upon acceptance of such application, give opinions of the preliminary evaluation, and report the preliminary evaluation opinions and all application materials directly to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs within five working days.
If not qualified following the preliminary evaluation, the agricultural and rural affairs authorities at the provincial level may, in accordance with the will of the applicant, give a written notice to the applicant and explain the reasons.
Change 8
2017 Article 21:
Upon acceptance of the application or receipt of the application data and preliminary evaluation opinions submitted by the agricultural authorities at the provincial level, the Ministry of Agriculture shall complete technical evaluations on the chemistry, toxicity, efficacy, residue, environment impact and label sample of the product within nine months, give evaluation opinions, and submit them to the Pesticide Registration Reviewing Committee for review.
2025 Article 22:
Upon acceptance of the application or receipt of the application data and preliminary evaluation opinions submitted by the agricultural and rural affairs authorities at the provincial level, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall organize its affiliated agrochemical institution to complete technical evaluations on the chemistry, toxicity, efficacy, residue, environment impact and label sample of the product within nine months, give evaluation opinions, and submit them to the Pesticide Registration Reviewing Committee for review.
Where the agrochemical institution affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs finds minor defects in the application materials during the technical evaluation process that require correction, it may require the applicant to supplement relevant materials within five working days. The relevant period shall not be counted in the evaluation time limit.
Change 9
2017 Article 23:
Upon acceptance of the pesticide registration application, the applicant may withdraw the registration application and submit a new application when supplementing and completing the relevant data.
The Ministry of Agriculture may require the applicant to supplement data based on the opinions of the Pesticide Registration Reviewing Committee.
2025 Article 24:
After the pesticide registration application is accepted and before entering the technical evaluation, the applicant may withdraw the registration application and submit a new application when supplementing and completing the relevant data.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs may, based on the opinions of the Pesticide Registration Reviewing Committee, require the applicant to supplement data within a designated time.
Change 10: Adding Article 25 in 2025 Version
2025 Article 25:
During the process of pesticide registration evaluation and review, if it is deemed that the test data submitted by the applicant requires verification, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs may organize verification tests and inform the applicant of the time required.
Change 11: Adding Article 26 in 2025 Version
2025 Article 26:
For products not approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, if the applicant applies for registration again, they may apply to use the corresponding registration data submitted previously. Specific requirements shall be separately prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Change 12
2017 Article 28:
The holder shall apply for change at the Ministry of Agriculture in the event one of the following circumstances occurs during the validity of the pesticide registration certificate:
the scope, method or use dosage of the pesticide is changed;
the components, except for the active ingredients, are changed;
the toxicity level of the product is changed;
the content of active ingredients in the TC is changed;
product quality standards are changed;
other circumstances specified by the Ministry of Agriculture.
In case of change to the pesticide registration certificate holder, relevant proof shall be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture for the re-issuing of a pesticide registration certificate.
2025 Article 31:
Where the pesticide registration certificate holder changes its name, or where enterprises merge or separate requiring the re-issuance of the pesticide registration certificate, an application shall be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs within thirty days from the date of the change, and relevant supporting materials shall be submitted.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall complete the evaluation within twenty working days from the date of accepting the application, and reissue the certificate if the conditions are met.
2025 Article 32:
In the event one of the following circumstances occurs during the validity of the pesticide registration certificate, the pesticide registration certificate holder shall apply for change to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs:
(I) the scope, method or use dosage of the pesticide is changed;
(II) the components, except for the active ingredients, are changed;
(III) the toxicity level of the product is changed;
(IV) the content of active ingredients in the TC is changed;
(V) product quality standards are changed;
(VI) other circumstances specified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Change 13
2017 Article 29:
Where the production of pesticides or export of pesticides to China needs to be continued upon expiration of the validity period, an application for renewal shall be made ninety days before expiration of the validity period. If no renewal is applied within such time limit, the application for registration shall be submitted again.
2025 Article 34:
Where the production of pesticides or export of pesticides to China needs to be continued upon expiration of the validity period, the pesticide registration certificate holder shall apply for renewal to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs ninety days before expiration of the validity period. If no renewal is applied within such time limit, the application for registration shall be submitted again.
Change 14: Deleting Article 30 in 2017 Version
2017 Article 30:
In case of application for change or renewal, the pesticide registration certificate holder shall submit such an application to the Ministry of Agriculture, fill in the application form and submit relevant data.
Change 15
2017 Article 35:
The pesticide registration certificate holder shall collect the information of and analyze the safety, efficacy change, product recall, accidents in production and use, etc. of pesticide products.
2025 Article 38:
The pesticide registration certificate holder shall collect and analyze the safety and efficacy changes of pesticide products and report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in a timely manner; in case of pesticide product recalls or pesticide use accidents, they shall report to the local agricultural and rural affairs authorities in a timely manner.
Change 16
2017 Article 36:
For pesticide products with a registration of more than fifteen years, the Ministry of Agriculture shall organize periodic evaluations based on the changes of production and use situations and industry policies.
2025 Article 39:
For pesticide products with a registration of more than fifteen years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall organize periodic evaluations based on the changes of production and use situations and industry policies. The evaluation results shall serve as an important basis for the evaluation of registration renewal.
Periodic evaluation mainly includes the following contents:
Resistance of target organisms;
Crop safety;
Quality and safety of agricultural products;
Human and animal health and safety;
Safety of beneficial organisms and ecological environmental impact.
Change 17
2017 Article 38, Paragraph 2:
Where an applicant conceals relevant facts or submits fake pesticide registration data and test samples, his/her application will not be entertained for one year; if the registration has been approved, the pesticide registration certificate shall be withdrawn and his/her application will not be entertained for three years. Where the pesticide registration certificate is revoked, his/her application will not be entertained for five years
2025 Article 42:
Where relevant facts are concealed or fake pesticide registration data and test samples are submitted, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs or the agricultural and rural affairs authorities at the provincial level shall not accept or approve the application, shall give a warning to the applicant and their agent, and shall not accept the pesticide registration application from said applicant and their agent within one year.
Where pesticide registration is obtained by deception, bribery, or other improper means, the pesticide registration certificate shall be revoked. The agricultural and rural affairs authorities at or above the county level may impose a fine of not less than 50,000 RMB but not more than 100,000 RMB on the applicant and their agent respectively; the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs or the agricultural and rural affairs authorities at the provincial level shall not accept the pesticide registration application from said applicant and their agent within three years.
Change 18
2017 Article 40:
The Ministry of Agriculture shall cancel the pesticide registration certificate and publish the fact in any of the following circumstances:
the application for renewal is not filed upon expiration of the validity term;
the pesticide registration holder is terminated according to law or not qualified as a pesticide registration application;
the pesticide registration data has been transferred according to law;
other circumstances where the pesticide registration certificate shall be canceled.
2025 Article 44:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall cancel the pesticide registration certificate and publish the fact in any of the following circumstances:
the application for renewal is not filed upon expiration of the validity term;
the pesticide registration holder is terminated according to law or not qualified as a pesticide registration application;
the name of the pesticide registration certificate holder has changed or the enterprise has merged or separated, and has already change the pesticide registration certificates;
the pesticide registration data has been transferred according to law;
other circumstances where the pesticide registration certificate shall be canceled.
Change 19
2017 Article 41:
The Ministry of Agriculture promotes the construction of a pesticide registration information platform, gradually realizes online handling of registration applications, and publishes the pesticide registration certificate issuing, renewal, changes, withdrawals and cancellation information, as well as the approved label information about the quality standard code, residue limit and testing methods of pesticide products through the website of the Ministry of Agriculture or by issuing a pesticide registration announcement.
2025 Article 45:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall establish a pesticide management information platform, periodically publish the pesticide registration certificate issuing, renewal, changes, withdrawals and cancellation information, as well as the approved label information about the quality standard code, residue limit or suggestion values, testing methods, etc.
Conclusion
Companies should closely review their existing pesticide registrations, update internal compliance procedures, and ensure that all data and documentation align with the new requirements.
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