China Updates Pesticide Labeling Rules: Key Changes under MARA Announcement No. 925

December 26, 2025 MARA

26 December 2025, China: In June 2025, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) released Announcement No. 925 (hereinafter referred to as the “Announcement”), making important revisions and detailed specifications to the labeling requirements for pesticide labels and instructions.

The Announcement sets forth clear regulatory requirements addressing industry issues such as difficulties in tracing technical material (TC), and chaotic trademark labeling. The new regulations will be officially implemented starting January 1, 2026.

Key Labeling Changes under Announcement No. 925

According to Announcement No. 925 and the official Q&A, this regulatory update primarily includes the following four core points:

Strengthened Labeling of Technical Material (TC/TK) Traceability Information

New Requirement: Pesticide formulation products must label the Registration Certificate Number and Manufacturer Name of the Technical Material (TC) or Technical Concentrate (TK) used. If different batches of formulations are processed using different TCs (or TKs), they must be labeled correspondingly.

Labeling Format: Relevant information can be printed directly on the label or reflected in the traceable electronic information code (QR code).

Responsible Entity: The holder of the formulation registration certificate is responsible for the authenticity of the information. If a product is exempted from TC registration due to technical or safety reasons, labeling is not required the TC information.

Strict Restrictions on Trademark Labeling (Restrictions on “One Certificate, Multiple Trademarks”)

Consistency Requirement: Pesticide products with the same registration certificate number must display the same trademark when sold nationwide. This effectively elevates the trademark to a status similar to a “trade name” for identification purposes.

Detailed Labeling for Herbicide-Tolerant Crops

For Non-Genetically Modified Crops: The applicable crop variety name must be labeled.

For Genetically Modified Crops: The applicable crop name and transformation event name must be labeled, and must comply with the requirements of MARA Announcement No. 542 regarding label content, safety protection, and application techniques.

Clarified Obligation for Adjuvant Labeling

For pesticide products requiring the addition of designated adjuvants during use (i.e., products containing adjuvant trial data in their registration dossiers), the label must clearly state information such as the name and main ingredients of the adjuvant.

Impact on Manufacturers and Supply Chains

This Announcement will have a profound impact on pesticide production and supply chain management:

Enhanced Supply Chain Transparency: The requirement to label the source of the TC forces formulation enterprises to strengthen supply chain management to ensure the legal compliance of TC sources. Furthermore, if different batches of formulations use different TCs, they must be accurately labeled, increasing the requirements for precision in production management.
Packaging Material Update Costs: Enterprises need to conduct a comprehensive review and redesign of existing labels and instructions, particularly those involving trademarks and TC information, which will incur certain costs for packaging material replacement.

Compliance Recommendations from REACH24H

Given that the new regulations will be implemented on January 1, 2026, it is recommended that relevant enterprises make the following compliance preparations in advance:

Inventory Cleanup and Label Review: Immediately take stock of existing product labels and sort out “One Certificate, Multiple Trademarks” situations.
Upgrade Traceability Systems: Update the enterprise’s QR code traceability system to ensure it supports the entry and display of the Registration Certificate Number and manufacturer information for the TC (or TK), utilizing digital means to meet compliance requirements and reduce pressure on label layout space.
Pay Attention to Transitional Policies: Pesticide products produced before January 1, 2026, with labels inconsistent with this Announcement, may continue to be sold within the product’s shelf life. Enterprises should arrange production plans reasonably and utilize the transition period to deplete old packaging materials.

For more information and assistance, please feel free to contact us at customer@reach24h.com.

Conclusion

Announcement No. 925 signals stricter supervision in the pesticide industry. The controls on trademarks and TC information, in particular, will reshape the competitive landscape of the industry. All relevant enterprises are urged to attach great importance to these changes.

Also Read: FTA with New Zealand: Will it Afflict the Interests of Indian Apple Growers?

Global Agriculture is an independent international media platform covering agri-business, policy, technology, and sustainability. For editorial collaborations, thought leadership, and strategic communications, write to pr@global-agriculture.com