Uzbekistan updates pesticide regulations for safer agriculture and environment

The Regulation “On the Procedure for Testing and Registration of Chemicals and Plant Protection Products” is being updated as part of a joint project by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, and the European Union. This project, titled “Technical Assistance for the Rational Management of Hazardous Chemicals,” aims to improve pesticide management in Uzbekistan.

An international online roundtable was held to discuss amendments to Uzbekistan's legislation, focusing on the Cabinet of Ministers' Resolution of March 6, 2024, which approved the regulation on testing and registering chemicals and plant protection products. At the request of Uzbekistan’s Plant Quarantine and Protection Agency, the FAO legal team provided recommendations to update the resolution.

Key issues discussed included revising pesticide definitions to align with international standards, phasing out highly hazardous chemicals, and enhancing control over pesticides entering the country. The discussions also emphasized drafting a document on pesticide use control based on international experts' recommendations.

The project aims to improve legal frameworks, tools, and coordination mechanisms in line with international conventions. It seeks to build local capacity, strengthen institutions, and help Uzbekistan meet its environmental and climate commitments. National coordinator Elmurod Nazarov highlighted that the project’s ultimate goal is to minimize pesticides’ negative impact on the environment and human health throughout their lifecycle, from production to use.

The initiative also supports Uzbekistan’s green growth strategy, promotes resource efficiency, and aligns with national policy priorities to achieve sustainable socio-economic development.