AgroCare post-patent crop protection
AgroCare post-patent crop protection
AgroCare post-patent crop protection

About AgroCare

AgroCare, founded on April 28, 2008 in Brussels, Belgium, is a global association representing the independent post-patent crop protection industry. In total, AgroCare represents about 865 companies, making it the most representative global association for the agrochemical industry in terms of independent manufacturers and formulators.

AgroCare represents the following 3 regional Associations.

European Crop Care Association (ECCA)

Active in Europe

Tel. +32 476 82 43 64 secretary@ecca-org.eu

China Crop Protection Industry Association (CCPIA)

Active in China

Tel. +86 21 60932675*857 cppiash@126.com

Pesticides Manufacturers & Formulators Association of India (PMFAI)

Active in India

Tel. +91 22 2673 4845 info@pmfaiindia.org

Its members, the three regional associations for Europe, India and China represent more than 850 individual manufacturers. As a global organisation, AgroCare defends the interests of generic manufacturers at global platforms such as the Joint Meeting on Pesticides Specifications (JMPS), the Joint Meeting on Pesticides Management (JMPM) and CIPAC (the Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council).

AgroCare provides a voice to its members, paving the way for a free competition with high quality generic products. Its Member Associations are active at their respective regional levels, dealing with both regulatory and pesticides management issues, in function of the specific needs of the different regions. These activities range from organising workshops and trainings for member companies to stimulate and improve compliance with the highest quality and regulatory standards, to active stakeholder participation with regulators to improve legislation and regulatory guidance. In Asia, member associations organise trainings for farmers to improve knowledge on the safe handling of pesticides; in all regions the associations and their regional members provide input in national and regional programmes on sustainable use of pesticides.

At the global level, AgroCare consolidates its members’ interests through participation to global platforms. At the joint meetings of UN organisations FAO and WHO (JMPS, JMPR, JMPM) AgroCare is present, not only to collect information for its members on regulatory developments, but also to intervene on their behalf, to ensure that new global procedures, regulations or guidance do not create specific hurdles for generic manufacturers. In the past years, AgroCare has been actively involved in the debate on amendments to the "Manual on development and use of FAO and WHO specifications for pesticides", which is causing costly delays for generic manufacturers to participate in international tenders for agrochemical and public hygiene products. In close cooperation with its regional member associations and their industry members, AgroCare is the international advocate for achieving feasible rules for establishing equivalence of active substances and products, at the same time maintaining high quality standards, and lowering barriers for the introduction of generic competition, to offer farmers around the world the benefits of free competition after patents have expired. AgroCare amplifies the voice of generic manufacturers who run into anticompetitive regulations and barriers, and speaks on their behalf. At the same time, AgroCare communicates to its members the developments at global level, enabling them to adjust their business strategies and prepare for changes in the global regulatory environment.

Objectives

  • To support the placing on the market of post-patent products, stimulating independent competition and innovation in the market.
  • To inform its members about international regulations, directives and guidelines, related to their professional activities and especially those affecting the granting or extension of approvals to manufacture or market plant protection products.
  • To find solutions to common problems regarding jurisdiction, finances, science and technology brought about by international agencies with the goal to facilitate or develop the economic activities of the Association members.
  • To represent its members as an entity for any cases or contacts with the international institutions.
  • To provide any member at all levels a supportive organization with regards to the defense, development and marketing of generic me-too products and post-patent innovations.

Mission

  1. To safeguard food security and clothing for a growing world population from a shrinking acreage available to farming.
  2. To support science-based regulations in the regulation of pesticides in agricultural and non-agricultural uses.
  3. To improve crop health, quality and yields.
  4. To promote product stewardship.
  5. To balance the intellectual property laws between incentives for the innovators and benefits to society stemming from competition by suppliers of new off-patent and post-patent crop protection products.
  6. To develop products and technologies to improve crop health, while reducing at the same time the risks associated with their use.
  7. To support Integrated Pest Management that has been shown to be effective in increasing and stabilizing yields.

Actions

  1. Participate in high level technical, regulatory and legal meetings with international organizations such as the FAO, WHO and WTO.
  2. Focus on technical data and scientific evidence to establish the properties and safety of generics, reduce their environmental impact and residue levels.
  3. Promote the adoption and use of the FAO/WHO JMPM Code of Conduct.
  4. Promote the adoption and use of the FAO/WHO JMPS Specifications.
  5. Elaborate Position Papers (PP) on critical industry issues:
    1. PP on the proposed amendments to the Manual on development and use of FAO and WHO Specifications for pesticides
    2. PP on the use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides