The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Deploys a Crackdown on Illegal Production, Operation, and Use of Prohibited and Restricted Pesticides

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs held a video conference to deploy nationwide efforts to crack down on the illegal production, operation, and use of banned and restricted pesticides. Zhang Xiangwen, member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Minister of the Ministry, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. The meeting emphasized the need to thoroughly implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, to crack down on illegal production, operation, and use of banned and restricted pesticides, to purify the pesticide market environment, and to provide strong support for safeguarding national food security and the quality and safety of agricultural products.

The meeting required that the concentrated rectification efforts focus on "illegal production, illegal sales, and illegal additives," prioritizing key areas and ensuring tangible results. A comprehensive inspection of pesticide manufacturers and distributors must be conducted, with intensified random inspections of pesticide products. Open and covert investigations should be organized to compile a problem inventory, followed by categorized legal enforcement to achieve the effect of "investigating one case to deter many."  The meeting emphasized the need to earnestly implement territorial responsibilities, strengthen vertical coordination among ministries, provinces, cities, and counties, and enhance cross-regional and cross-departmental collaboration to build a unified working effort. It also stressed the importance of firmly establishing and practicing a correct view of performance, strictly adhering to work discipline, standardizing inspection practices, and eliminating local protectionism. The overarching requirements of "establishing the Party for the public good, benefiting the people, making scientific decisions, and working diligently" must be implemented throughout all aspects and stages of the concentrated rectification efforts.

Delegates from the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Justice, and the State Administration for Market Regulation attended the main venue, while representatives from the agricultural, rural affairs, public security, justice, and market supervision departments of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps participated in the sub-venues. Officials from agricultural and rural affairs departments in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hunan, and other provinces delivered speeches via video link.