China ICAMA Requires Further Environmental Risk Assessment of Flubendiamide 

By Fang Lin on Thursday, 28 November 2013 in Agrochemical News

On November 22 2013, a workshop was held by China ICAMA in Beijing to discuss the environmental impact of Flubendiamide. The pesticide is often used to protect paddy fields where there is particular concern about its ecological impact.

Environmental experts and industrial representatives were summoned  to participate in the discussion. Attendees acknowledged flubendiamide’s registration status in other countries and discussed China’s pesticide risk assessment model and exposure scenarios for paddy fields. The procedures and the result of the preliminary environmental risk assessment of flubendiamide were also reported during the session. Experts concluded that assessment of risk to daphnia magna as the sole risk assessment criteria is inadequate and further study is required to ensure its safety to aquatic ecosystems and ensure it maintains its registration maintenance. The enterprise representatives claimed that the mesocosm study on flubendiabmide has been finished and the data would be provided to facilitate the study. They also suggest that a semi-field trial and tracking monitor should be adopted to fully evaluate the impact on the aquatic ecosystem.

Flubendiamide is a novel insecticide developed by Bayer and Nihon Nohyaku. It has been found to provide excellent control over lepidopterous pests on large number of annual and perennial crops. Currently, China granted 10 pesticide registrations to flubendiamide products, which can be seen as below: