Updating Rules on Pesticide Production Operations   

China has completed amending the rules on pesticide production operations, to improve management and advance development in the pesticide sector, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on February 12th.
   The new rules will oversee the establishment of new pesticide plants, the expansion or relocation of existing factories and the adjustment of product portfolio as well as period of validity.
   The period of validity for pesticide production will be extended to five years from three years, according to the amended rules.
   And newly - built pesticide plants are no longer subject to maximum investment limit under the rules, while they have to meet more stringent environmental-protection requirements, which are in line with the standards adopted by industrial leaders.
   China will curb the development of virulent or highly toxic or highly persistent pesticide technical such as omethoate and phorate, and also limit oversupply pesticides in capacity like organophosphorus and organochlorine products. No expansion facility is allowed for dicofol, pentachlorophenol, sodium pentachlorophenol and lindane, according to the rules.
   In addition, the rules give a list of outdated products and techniques set to be eliminated.