Mandatory accreditation of these GLP practices was introduced in China on March 1, 2018. Since then, 414 testing institutes have applied for certification, with 252 being subjected to on-site inspections from the authorities.
Of these, China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MoARA) has approved 177 institutes for pesticide registration. These institutes cover five major areas: product chemistry, residue, toxicology, environmental impacts and efficacy.
The reason for China's interest in improving its pesticide industry is simple: agriculture is at the core of the country's economy. China has vast arable land resources, and its farmers are estimated to number around 200 million, working to produce crops and livestock for the domestic, regional, and global food markets.
However, with a rapidly growing population, the demand for food is also increasing, and pressure is on farmers to produce more food in smaller areas. Using pesticides is a key means of ensuring that crops remain healthy, productive and able to resist pests, diseases and other threats.
At the same time, pesticides must be of high quality and pass stringent safety tests before they are used on crops. Thus, having a robust system of pesticide research and development is key to meeting demand while ensuring safety and meeting legislative and regulatory requirements.
The GLP system is an essential part of ensuring pesticide safety and efficacy. It involves a standardized set of actions that guarantee the reliability and quality of test data. These actions include the proper planning and conducting of studies, recording and reporting test data, and proper storage and handling of samples.
In particular, GLP practices help to ensure uniformity and comparability of data generated by different laboratories, which in turn enhances reliability and credibility in pesticide development and registration.
In conclusion, China's focus on developing its pesticide industry, including the implementation of a GLP system, is a crucial step in ensuring food security and economic growth for the country. By promoting reliability, safety and quality in pesticide testing, China is ensuring that its vast agricultural resources remain productive and competitive, even as the challenges they face grow more complex.