Regulatory Requirements and Registration of Biopesticides in the Philippines

Abstract

Traditional agriculture, in a perpetual effort to maximize productivity, have always relied on synthetic pesticides to control pest infestations. However, usage of these synthetic chemicals has an inadvertent adverse effect on the environment. Thus, they are not sustainable and there is a need to slowly decrease its usage in favor of pesticidal products that are more environment-friendly in nature. An alternative to traditional pesticides is biological pesticides or biopesticides. Biopesticides are biocontrol chemicals derived from natural resources such as plants, animals, minerals, or microorganism such that the usage of which is without the threat of environmental contamination and pollution. Moreover, most biopesticides have been proven to be at par if not better relative to the dominant synthetic pesticides in the market. Thus, biopesticides have been constantly promoted as an alternative to traditional and inorganic pesticides. Despite this, biopesticide usage in the Philippines and the world in general remains relatively diminutive. Inefficiencies in registration of new biopesticide products are in part responsible. Regulation of pesticides and biopesticides in general is governed by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) agency in the Philippines. The lack of general interest in biopesticides locally has been attributed to insufficient trainings and extensions to farmers, insufficient manufacturing capacity to satiate even the meager demand, lack of biopesticide inoculant resources repository, limited to absence of linkages between local government units and farmers, and cultural tendency – the 50-year-old habit of the massive application of fertilizers and pesticides brought about by the practices in green revolution. Recommendations to promote local biopesticides utilization include partnerships with the private sector to facilitate mass production and commercialization if government or state-owned biopesticides formulation plant is not possible, establishment of biopesticides inoculant resources repository, and improvement and maintenance of the quality of trainings and seminars provided to farmers.