PESTICIDES MANAGEMENT IN

MALAYSIA

Lalitha Jaya George

Pesticides Control Division
Department of Agriculture Malaysia
(Pesticides Board of Malaysia)

12 December 2016
December 19, 2016 Bangkok
1
 TOPICS
• Pesticide laws in Malaysia
• Pesticides Act 1974 and its provisions
• Post registration activities
• Pesticides related
instruments/mechanisms at
international and regional level

December 19, 2016 2

 PESTICIDE LAWS
IN MALAYSIA
1. The Hydrogen Cyanide
(Fumigation) Ordinance
1953

2. The Pesticides Act 1974

3. The Environmental Quality

Act 1974

5. The Occupational Safety &

Health Act 1994

5. The Food Act 1983 3

 Pesticides Act 1974
• Regulates various aspects
of pesticides in Malaysia

• Has a provision for the

establishment of the
Pesticides Board

• The Pesticides Control

Division of DOA acts as
the Secretariat

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 PESTICIDES BOARD
• Fourteen members
from related agencies

• Decides on policies

• Two permanent
committees under the
Board

 The Technical Committee

 The Advertisement
Committee

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 PROVISIONS OF
THE PESTICIDES ACT 1974
1. Registration Scheme

2. Pesticides Labeling

3. Control of Importation of Pesticides for

Educational and Research Purposes

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 PROVISIONS OF
THE PESTICIDES ACT 1974
4. Control of Sale and Storage for Sale Through
Licensing

5. Control of Pesticide Advertisements

6. Highly Toxic Pesticides Regulations

7. Control on Pest Control Operators

8. Administrative Control of Aerial Spraying

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 REGISTRATION
SCHEME

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 Registration Scheme -
Objective
• To ensure that pesticides
sold and used in the
country are effective, good
in quality & do not cause
unacceptable effects to man
and the environment

• The process of evaluation

and approval by the
Pesticides Board for a
pesticide to be imported,
manufactured, sold and
used in Malaysia
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 Registration Scheme –
Data Requirements

The following data/information are to be submitted to the

Board for evaluation at registration process :

– Data on product chemistry

– Data on bioefficacy
– Data on mammalian toxicology
– Data on ecotoxicology
– Data on environmental fate
– Data on residue in food crops
– Data on safe handling
– Packaging and labeling

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 PESTICIDES
LABELING

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 Control Of Labeling-
Objective
• To ensure that all registered pesticides are labeled
in accordance with good labeling practices

• Relevant information to be incorporated on the

label

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 Control Of Labeling-
Information To Be On The label
• Product description
• Hazard classification
• Name and address of registrant
• Registration number
• Directions for use
• Medical and first aid statements
• Precaution and safety statements
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 Color Band &
Hazard Statements
CLASS Hazard Statement Symbols Color Band

Class Ia VERY HIGHLY POISONOUS Skull & Cross Bones BLACK

Class Ib HIGHLY POISONOUS Skull & Cross Bones RED

Class II POISONOUS -- YELLOW

Class III HARMFUL -- BLUE

Class IV -- -- WHITE
 CONTROL ON IMPORTATION OF
PESTICIDES FOR EDUCATIONAL
AND RESEARCH PURPOSES

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 Control of Importation for
Research and Educational-
Objective

• To allow the importation newly developed/coded

compound for research and educational
purposes

• To encourage local research

• Normally in limited quantity

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 CONTROL OF SALE AND
STORAGE FOR SALE

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 Control of Sale and
Storage for Sale
• To ensure safe and proper storage/display of
pesticides to avoid food and environmental
contamination

• Requirements to conform to conditions

• 4,000 premises are licensed

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 Some of the Conditions of
Sale and Storage License
• Signage
• Store under locked & key
• Fire extinguisher & equipment to fight
spillage
• Special permit to purchase HTP
• Certain household products are exempted

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 ADVERTISEMENT
CONTROL

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 Advertisement Control-
Objective
• To ensure that pesticide products are
advertised in accordance with acceptable
codes

• To avoid any misleading and over claim

statements

• To control all media

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 Advertisement Control-
Some Unacceptable Words and
Phrases
• Non-poisonous, harmless & non-injurious
• Contains no harmful chemicals
• Safe to human & the environment
• Can be used anywhere
• Among the least toxic pesticides known
• Odourless, fragrant & sweet smelling
• Superlative words & phrases (e.g. most effective,
most powerful)
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 CONTROL OF
HIGHLY TOXIC
PESTICIDES
(HTP)

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 Control of HTP-
Objectives
• Aimed at providing greater accountability on employers and
employees in handling HTPs

• Pesticides controlled under HTP Regulations are:

– Monocrotophos
– Methamidophos
– Paraquat

• Among the requirements of HTP Regulations are:

– Medical examination
– Protective clothing
– First aids
– Records
December 19, 2016 24
 CONTROL OF PEST
CONTROL OPERATORS
(PCO)

December 19, 2016 25

 Control of PCO –
Objectives
• To ensure pest control operation is effective & do
not harm occupants and the environment

• Requirement to license the PCO companies &

certification of operators

• Requirement for the applicator and assistant

applicator to pass the exam set by the Board

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 AERIAL
SPRAYING
CONTROL

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 Administrative Control
of Aerial Spraying
• To minimize contamination to the
environment
• Carried out by administrative agreement with
Department of Civil Aviation (DCA)
• DCA requires written approval from Pesticides
Board
• Approval is given based on guidelines

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 Salient Points – Pesticides
Trend In Malaysia

• Requirements for higher safety standards (food,

environmental and workers safety standards)
• Phasing out of highly toxic pesticides
• Introduction of natural pesticides
• Registration of generic pesticides
• International obligations
• Labeling requirements

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 POST REGISTRATION
ACTIVITIES

December 19, 2016 30

 Post Registration
Activities
Legislative Activities
– Review of registration status
– Market sampling
– Monitoring of pesticide residues in
crops
– Environmental monitoring
– Monitoring of poisoning cases
– Enforcement activities

December 19, 2016 31

 Post Registration
Activities
Non-Legislative Activities

– Education and training

– Recycling of used pesticide
containers
– Vegetable farm certification
scheme (SALM)
– Organic farm certification scheme
(SOM)
– Promotion of IPM

December 19, 2016 32

PESTICIDES RELATED MECHANISMS AT
INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL

1. FAO/WHO Code of Conduct

2. Rotterdam Convention
3. Stockholm Convention
4. Montreal Protocol
5. Codex Alimentarius – Codex Committee on
Pesticide Residues
6. Globally Harmonized System for Classification and
Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
7. ASEAN Initiative Towards Pesticide Regulatory
Harmonization
8. EWG on the Harmonization of MRLs among ASEAN
December 19, 2016 33
 REGISTERED AGRICULTURAL
PESTICIDES
Usage Number of product Number of
registered a.i./mixture
Herbicide 797 126
Insecticide/ 634 113
Acaricide
Fungicide 347 79
Rodenticide 41 8
Molluscicide 19 3
Nematicide 8 3
TOTAL 1,846 332
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 MALAYSIAN PESTICIDES MARKET
(RM Millions) – Source: MCPA
Crop Care 2014 2015
Products
Herbicides 370 (66%) 355 (64%)

Insecticides 136 (25%) 145 (26%)

Fungicides 27 (5%) 31 (6%)

Rodenticides 22 (4%) 23 (4%)

TOTAL 555 551

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 THANK YOU

December 19, 2016 36