After three years of concerted efforts of CLP together with other industry associations in tandem with the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority, the Revision to the Pesticides Implementing Rules and Regulation became finally effective on July 3, 2020. The revisions covered:
Additional data protection.
Storage stability and shelf life.
Experimental use permit.
Mode of action on product labels.
Disposal of pesticide waste.
Drone regulation.
Plant incorporated protectants.
To manage COVID-19 impact on regulatory submission, CLP made representation with FPA to Accommodate submissions through emails. A transport arrangement was also facilitated by CropLife to deliver and retrieve documents to-and-from the evaluators based outside Metro Manila.
CLP, through its Technical and Regulatory Committee, actively participated in the discussions as members of the Technical Working Group on revisions in the Philippine National Standard for Maximum Residue Limits (MRL).
Last year, the MRL on Pesticides Residues on Milled Rice was finally issued by The Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards.
Meanwhile, while online transaction brought about a new era of ease and comfort, it was also used by unscrupulous individuals to sell unregistered crop protection products. To avert these malpractices, CLP closely coordinated with the FPA to monitor the operations of the Concerned sellers. In 2020, the FPA issued show cause order to the online sellers.
To sustain good working relationship with the regulators, CLP also held online meetings with Regulators to thresh out regulatory issues and compliance.