Pesticides products: CCP suggests re-evaluation of two-year shelf-life limitation

ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has recommended re-evaluation of the two-year shelf-life limitation on pesticide products in light of new technological advancements.

According to the CCP report on pesticides, it is recommended that the current two-year shelf-life restriction be re-evaluated.

The review should be conducted in consultation with industry stakeholders, scientific experts, and government departments.

Advancements in chemical formulation and preservation technologies have enhanced the stability of modern pesticide products, which enable them to remain effective beyond two years.

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The shelf-life policy leads to the unnecessary disposal of still-effective pesticide stocks, which results in increased operational costs for importers and formulators, disruption in supply chains, and financial losses across the distribution network.

Furthermore, premature disposal of viable products necessitates fresh imports, placing an additional pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

It is also recommended that before making any amendments in the APO 1971 or 1973 rules and guidelines government also review the practices of other countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia, and the European Union to see whether they allow extended shelf life for pesticides. If these countries do not follow such practices, then Pakistan should ensure that the import and formulation of pesticides match its own safety and quality requirements.

To support this, past data on pesticide usage should be carefully reviewed before approving future imports. Therefore, a science-based, flexible approach should be adopted, whereby the shelf-life of pesticide products is determined according to manufacturer-declared expiry dates backed by validated stability data and aligned with international best practices, CCP added.

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