New department to manage pesticides

The Ministry of Agriculture has established a new arm called the Administration of Pesticide Management to set industry standards, and handle permits, supervision and guidance, reported Xinhua. It will take over some functions from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the General Administration of Quality Inspection, Supervision and Quarantine, such as granting permits to new pesticide manufacturers, and the registration of new types of pesticides. China is the world’s biggest pesticide producer and consumer, with excessive pesticide residue being the cause of some major food safety scandals.