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Food supply

Delays in Pesticide Registrations Threaten Pakistan's Agriculture Sector

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Pakistan's agriculture sector is facing significant challenges due to delays in pesticide registrations and import permissions at the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Karachi. The Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA) has expressed serious concerns in a formal letter to the Adviser and Director General of the DPP and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. The association highlighted that a large number of registration cases under Form-1, Form-16, and Form-17 remain pending with the regulatory authority, disrupting import and marketing timelines and delaying the supply of pesticides to the farming community during a critical cropping season.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA) has raised serious concerns over delays in pesticide registrations and import permissions at the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Karachi.
  • A large number of registration cases under Form-1, Form-16, and Form-17 remain pending with the regulatory authority, including 62nd APTAC meeting-approved products under Form-1.
  • The backlog includes numerous Form-16 cases for generic products and Form-17 applications for new chemistry products, including renewals.
  • Industry stakeholders are concerned about the slow decision-making process at the DPP, frequent and inconsistent queries causing unnecessary delays.
  • PCPA termed the level of pendency "alarming" and warned that it poses a direct threat to the timely launch and availability of crop protection products in the local market.
  • The association emphasized that the agricultural sector does not suffer due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, particularly with current climatic and economic pressures burdening farmers.
  • PCPA appealed to the authorities to urgently resolve the issues at the DPP to ensure timely sourcing, import, and distribution of essential products.

Statistics:

  • 62nd APTAC meeting-approved products under Form-1 remain pending for registration certificates.
  • 10,000 metric ton of cotton is in the field, and the industry is finding it difficult to supply necessary pesticides for pest and disease control.
  • 70% of rice crop is sown, and the industry is facing challenges to supply pesticides for pest and disease control.
  • 60% of wheat sowing is expected to begin soon, and the industry is concerned about product shortages.
  • The backlog includes numerous Form-16 cases for generic products and Form-17 applications for new chemistry products, including renewals.

Sources:

  • "PCPA Raises Serious Concerns on Pesticide Registrations and Import Permissions," Pakistan Crop Protection Association, June 30, 2023.

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