Pesticides or Phytosanitary Products, the Key is an Adequate Evaluation

Products for crops protection, phytosanitary products or pesticides are chemical substances designed for the protection of crops from pests, weeds and diseases. They contribute in this manner to the production of healthy and abundant food. To ensure research, development, marketing and responsible use of pesticides, an adequate regulation is essential, based on scientific criteria and international standards.

The companies associated to CropLife Latin America follows the guidelines of the FAO International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Utilization of Pesticides. Additionally, they follow strict parameters of ethics and social responsibility in aspects related to quality, human health care and environmental care.

The regulatory process of each country begins with the registration of the phytosanitary products. The authorities must realize an adequate evaluation of the scientific data and said data must demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the phytosanitary product, and guarantee that when the pesticides are used according to label instructions they do not represent unacceptable risk for the health and the environment. This evaluation is an essential requirement to grant the sales permit or product registration.


In the registration process of a phytosanitary product, the following three authorities intervene:

• Agriculture: Evaluate the "efficiency ", in other words, the product will control the pest for which it was designed.
• Environment: Evaluate the impact that the product may have in superficial and underground water, in the fauna and in the air.
• Health: Evaluate the risk that the product may have for the user or person applying the product and for the food consumer.

It is the responsibility of the authorities of each country to maintain an adequate regulatory framework and evaluation process that ensures the quality and safety of the phytosanitary products that the farmers use. The responsibility for producers, importers and distributors is to present to the authorities the studies or scientific proof which give support to the safety and efficacy of the product which they pretend to market.