New rules to regulate biological control in crops.

The Ministry of Agriculture establishes a procedure for the recall of products that fall outside the application of the new rules.

The Council of Ministers of the Government of Spain has approved on 14 November, on the proposal of the Ministry of agriculture, Food and environment, a Royal Decree that the rules governing the means of phytosanitary defense is updated, different plant protection products, to harmonize national legislation with EU standards in this area.

With the amendment approved, the application of the new rules is limited to the biological control organisms (OCB), pheromone traps and monitoring, established for these types of products the requirements for, communication procedures and authorization thereof, and the conditions for marketing and registration.

Thus substantially improves the procedure for file management and levels of market transparency, by increasing the information to farmers.

The deadlines allow companies that sell initiate the relevant procedures to adapt to the existing regulatory framework for plant protection products or fertilizers, in addition to enabling the sector to adapt in a progressive manner to the new regulation.

The Directorate General of Health of the Agricultural Production approved in accordance with this Royal Decree an instruction which will be informed of the documentary requirements to file, necessary to qualify for the transitional period mentioned above.

In addition, Directorate General has scheduled the launch of a computer application, which will allow the public consultation, with the double function of informing businesses and farmers in the situation where different products are on the market, and to improve coordination in the administrative management of records.

The new Royal Decree and its complementary actions introduce sustainability criteria in agricultural production, while national legislation is harmonized with EU legislation, with the view that sustainable agricultural production in time, It will consolidate the position in European and international markets, of what consumers will benefit from having available to agricultural products of higher quality and safer.