2013, February: Consultative workshop on the draft Pesticide Registration and Control Regulation

In August 2010, the comprehensive pesticides law of Ethiopia, the Pesticide Registration and Control Proclamation 674/2010, was adopted. This proclamation defines the overall framework for pesticide management in the country. However, the various provisions of this framework law need to be worked out in more detail in secondary legislation. The Ministry of Agriculture of Ethiopia has therefore been preparing a new Pesticide Registration and Control Regulation with the aim to operationalize the Proclamation. The Alterra Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre provided technical support, and the FAO Legal Development Service legal assistance, for this important activity.

The draft Regulation covers all stages of the pesticide life cycle in Ethiopia and regulates chemical pesticides as well as bio-pesticides. It defines the rights and responsibilities of stakeholders for pesticide import, distribution and use, both at the federal and the decentralized levels. The draft Regulation is structured around the following main aspects: pesticide registration; competence assurance certificates (for certain pesticide-related activities); general rules to regulate pesticides activities during the pesticide life cycle (e.g. import and export, distribution and sales, use and application, packaging and labelling, storage, transportation, disposal); pesticide quality control, and various administrative provisions.

On 21 and 22 February 2013, a consultative workshop was organized in Debrezeit to discuss the draft Pesticide Registration and Control Regulation. The objectives of the workshop were to explain the rationale behind the contents of the draft Regulation and obtain comments and suggestions on how to improve the document.

The consultation was attended by approximately 40 participants from relevant federal ministries, Regional Bureaus of Agriculture, farmer organizations, NGOs, the private sector, research institutions, Alterra, and the FAO Legal Development Service. In various sessions and working groups the draft Regulation was discussed in detail, and suggestions were provided for its improvement.

The drafting committee at the Ministry of Agriculture will take into account the proposed corrections, amendments and additions when finalizing the document. It is expected that the Regulation will be submitted for adoption by the Council of Ministers in the course of 2013.