Either in the international market or domestic market, "market competition" in the pesticide industry often reminds people of the tangible competition among products and brands. However, over the past few years, another mode of market competition of a higher level and greater influence-standard competition has quietly emerged.

On November 7, 2014, FAO/WHO Workshop on Development of Pesticide Specifications organized by China Crop Protection Industry Association (CCPIA) kicked off in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. More than 50 manufacturers and foreign trade enterprises including multinational companies and listed companies attended the workshop. Sun Shubao, president of CCPIA, and Shirley Xia, deputy secretary-general attended the workshop and delivered speeches.

Mr. Sun stressed "as a key, big non-patented pesticide producer and exporter, China will benefit from the establishment of FAO/WHO pesticide specifications. It is of vital importance for Chinas enterprises to stand a chance in the international competition and to promote their own brands on a much higher level."

The workshop lasted five days. Dr. Markus Muller, president of FAO/WHO JMPS, Dr. Morteza Zaim, chief expert of WHOPES, Ms. Yang Yongzhen, joint secretary of FAO/WHO JMPS and JMPR, Mr. Chen Tiechun, head of Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, MOA and expert of FAO/WHO JMPS, etc. made up the group of experts at the workshop. It seems quite straightforward how powerful the teaching lineup is.

At the workshop, experts from home and abroad not only made an expound explanation on the establishment of FAO/WHO standards and the application procedures, but also gave a systemic and in-depth introduction to many enterprises questions on standards, including requirements on parameters of pesticides active ingredients, determination of relevant impurities as well as requirements on data/information. In the meantime, they also designed instant practice and carried out round table discussions and face-to-face Q&A activities to complement the traditional one-to-many teaching method in the aim of helping enterprises better understand and absorb the knowledge and skills they have acquired. 

As the old saying goes, you may know by a handful the whole sack. The number of the enterprises which attended the workshop testifies that Chinas pesticide market is developing towards internationalization and standardization. Enterprises will to be geared to international standards is fully manifested; the fact that experts invited to the workshop were leaders on international pesticide standards also signifies the rapid development of Chinas pesticide standards and its gradual flourishing in the international market. Pesticides "made in China" have already gained a foothold in the international market, and pesticides of "Chinese standard" will attract more attention of the world.