작성일자: 2013.3.11

작성자: 카이로 무역관 김효근 (nabeel@kotra.or.kr), Pakinam Hassan (pakinam.kotra@gramail.com)

 

 

1. Pesticides’ Production

 

 

 ○ According to the Egyptian Agricultural Pesticide Committee(APC) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Dr. Mohamed I. Abdel-Megid APC Chairman and Dr. Yehia A. Ibrahim, APC Vice Chairman, said that Egypt is not a major pesticide producer country, usually most of its needs for agricultural pesticide use are imported. Therefore, when trying to register pesticides, references have to be considered for the judicial use. In this respect, the Agricultural Pesticide Committee(APC) is the Egyptian governance accountable for the assessment, evaluation and registration of agricultural pesticides, and for their regulation up to and including the point of retail sale. APC – by law - sits within the portfolio of the Minister for Agriculture and Land Reclamation. Since Egypt is mostly a pesticide-importing country, it follows many international reference guides and guidelines in pesticide registration mandates, policies, requirements and procedures.

 

 ○ Accelerated concern over the excessive use of chemical pesticides has created markets for bio-pesticide products worldwide. Egypt has missed this opportunity for environmentally friendly economic growth. There is a conceptualized simple system appropriate for a localized pesticide production in Egypt. Insecticidal nematodes have been developed globally (marketed now on four continents) as alternatives to toxic and expensive chemical pesticides. In most countries, small companies under cottage industry produce the majority of bio-pesticides. EASTECH-1 is a simple, inexpensive, largely automated insecticidal nematode mass production system. Prototypes will be developed, tested, optimized and scaled up to develop larger production units in Egypt. The goal is to build simple and innovative technology which spark the development of a bio-pesticide industry in Egypt and suitable for other developing countries. As the only biological control agent available for many insects which live in cryptic habitats such as soil, entomopathogenic nematodes should be poised for wider use, as regulatory scrutiny in the world continues to restrict or ban important chemical insecticides. One component of nematode production in Egypt and  developing countries is a cottage industry of low volume producers using in vivo technology.

 

 ○ Based on a method devised in 1927 called the White trap. The first economic scalable system for in vivo nematode mass production will be developed. Unlike the White trap, there is no requirement for nematode migration to a water reservoir. The EASTECH-1 system of tools and procedures provide process technology for low-cost, high-efficiency mass production. This system consists of: (1) perforated holding trays to secure insect hosts during inoculation, conditioning (synchronizing nematode emergence), and harvesting, (2) an automated, self-cleaning harvester with misting nozzles that trigger infective juvenile emergence and rinse the nematodes through the holding trays to a central bulk storage tank, and (3) a continuous deflection separator for washing and concentrating nematodes. This rearing system offers an increase in efficiency relative to the conventional White trap method with reduced labor and space. Meanwhile EASTECH-2, is the second inexpensive system of in vitro mass production. In this system an inexpensive media of local components will be developed to produce entomopathogenic nematodes inside 1 liter glass flasks instead of expensive bioreactors. The produced nematodes will be extracted, cleaned, and collected in mass numbers via inexpensive delivery system. The EASTECH-1 and EASTECH-2 systems will be developed in Cairo University(CU). Entomopathogenic nematodes produced by both systems will be used as biological control agents against agricultural insect pests of exported vegetables and fruit trees such as the strawberry beetle, Egyptian cotton leaf-worm, greasy (black) cutworm and tomato fruit-worm on different vegetables of exporting importance such as fresh green beans and tomatoes and the leopard moth on olive trees. These biological control agents will be tested in Upper Egypt through the collaboration with the Plant Protection Research Institute(PPRI), They will also be tested in Giza, Fayoum and North Sinai governorates.

     Moreover, the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute(AGERI), which has teamed up with leading private sector companies in biotechnology to become one of Egypt’s premier research institutions — AGERI is collaborating with the Monsanto Company to produce insect-resistant cotton.

     Despite the progress, the biotech industry in Egypt remains in its nascent phase. The launch of products has been held up by some uncertainty surrounding the certification process for genetically modified organisms(GRAMOs) and concerns about the safety of GRAMOs among some consumers in the European Union — Egypt’s largest trading partner — despite a lack of scientifically damaging evidence.

     So far, the only product AGERI has launched commercially is a bacterium-based pesticide called AGERIN. The product was launched in 1997 as a safer, more potent alternative for killing a broad range of insect varieties such as moths, beetles and mosquitoes that feast on Egypt’s staple crops. AGERIN is based on a bacterium that is toxic to the targeted insects but not harmful to humans, says AGERI ‘s Director Hanaiya El-Itriby.

 

  ○ A company like ‘Sidasa’, established since 1956, started to contribute in agriculture. through research and experimental on the use of seaweed extracts for increasing crop ‎production.‎ Sidasa, as an example, is producing 3 types of pesticides: Nat 1, Nat Com, Demis. Nat1 is considered to be one of the pesticides’ products and it produced from natural oil (Jojoba oil); the product is emulsified E.C this product is used against the acaricides, leaf miner, and flies aphids. The dilution needed for use is 100 liter water for one liter Nat 1. Nat is considered to be one of the pesticides’ products and again it produced from natural oil (Jojoba oil) the product is emulsified E.C this product is used against the acaricides, leaf miner, and flies aphids as well. The dilution needed for use is 100 liter water for one liter Nat Com. Finally, Demis is bio pesticides products from is considered to be one of the pesticides’ products and again it produced from natural oil (mix of oils), the product is emulsified E.C. Demis is used against the acaricides, leaf miner, and flies aphids. The dilution needed for use is 100 liter water for one liter Demis.

     Finally, any Egyptian factory producing pesticides should comply to the ISO/IEC 17025 and acquire the accreditation for the ISO/IEC 17025.

 

 ※ Sources

  - Egyptian Agricultural Pesticide Committee(APC), the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation

  - Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University

  - Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute(AGERI)

  - Sidasa’s Official Website: www.sidasa-egypt.com

 

 

2. Pesticides’ Demand

 

 ○ In Egypt, crops and food plants are attacked by a wide spectrum of pests (insect, acarose, nematodes, fungi and bacteria). These pests reduce the quality and quantity of food by interfering with food production and producing physical damage to crops and food stuff. In addition, pests also may cause damage to human by spreading disease and as nuisance by their presence where man does not want them.

 

 ○ As the demand on food increase parallel with the increase in human population, people find a need to minimize the existence and/or damage of pests. Consequently, as the demand on food increase parallel with the increase in human population, the demand for pesticides by the agribusiness sector is increasing. According to the Egyptian Central Agricultural Pesticides Laboratory, pesticides have become an essential element in the modern agricultural practice. Consequently, almost all crops are treated by at least one type of pesticides.

 

 ○ There are three main ways to minimize the existence and/or control pest's damage: the first way is by mechanical control in which, farmers physically preventing the pest from causing the damage by removing/isolating the pest from the site of attack or by physically debilitating the pest. The second way is by using other organisms control pest or render harmless technology that refers to biological control and finally some farmers may use the chemical pesticides to control pests the process that generally called chemical control.

 

 ○ In Egypt, the agribusiness and namely farmers consider a pesticide to be any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. The term pesticide also applies to herbicides, fungicides, and various other substances used to control pests. Despite the benefits of using pesticides for pest control, caution should be taken when transport, handle, or apply pesticides as pesticides can cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment because they are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms. In the Environmental protection Agency(EPA) of the United States of America, there are about 600 active ingredients registered as pesticide. In Egypt, only 185 active ingredients legally registered. These registered active ingredients are included in more than 335 formulated pesticides.  

     As previously mentioned, the demand on food increase parallel with the increase in human population especially with a growing population of more than 80 million, Egypt represents one of the largest markets in the region. The Egyptian population demand many agriculture products such as grains, livestock, dairy, rice, sugar, oil crops, cocoa, coffee, and cotton. Taking the demand for rice as an example, rice is considered to be a central component of the Egyptian diet. However, agribusiness experts expect rice consumption to increase strongly in 2013 because of government efforts to provide cheap grains to consumers via a procurement program. The government recently announced that it would include more rice and less macaroni in its procurement program, as prices for rice are lower than for macaroni. Also, in a context of the tight global market and with Egypt remaining a major grain exporter, rice prices will be relatively competitive relative to other grains such as wheat and corn, which is likely to encourage consumer demand for rice at the expense of other grains.

     Finally, there are various pesticides, which have numerous functions and purposes, demanded for several crops. Some of the pesticides demanded for rice, as example, include the following:

 

Bancol 50% WP	Delcup 6 % L	Gulliver 50% DF	Meritan 10% GR
Basagran 48% AS	Diazinox 5% G	Icteem 75% WP	Mocap 10% G
Beam 75% WP	Fenthion 50% EC	Inpul 75% WG	Nominee 2% SL
Citron 50% EC	Fuji-one 40% EC	Kafrosaturn 50% EC	Parcop 97% Crystals
Copral 50% WP	Granite 24% SC	Kelion 50% WG	Rainbow 2.5% OD

 

 ※ Sources

  - Central Agricultural Pesticides Laboratory(CAPL)

 

 

  - Agriculture Pesticide Committee, Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture

 

 

 

3. Pesticides’ Import and Export Statistics

 

□ According to the CAPMAS(The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics), which based on Presidential Decree 2915 for year 1964, CAPMAS is the official source for provision of data, statistics, and reports. The following table demonstrates the current status of pesticides’ imports in year 2009~2010:

 

HS Code	3808930000
Item	Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators

 

Rank	Country	Import Value ($)		Growth Rate (%)	Import Share (%)
		2009	2010	2009~2010	2010
1	China	2,302,065	2,314,723	1	25
2	Belgium	1,289,727	1,949,520	51	21
3	Germany	2,103,401	1,626,270	-23	17
4	France	621,304	842,658	36	9
5	Ireland	─	415,739	─	4
6	Netherlands	317,559	352,689	11	4
7	Chile	─	345,681	─	4
8	Greece	347,261	297,966	-14	3
9	Spain	27,117	243,229	797	3
10	Japan	306,633	232,703	-24	2
16	South Korea	64,274	41,901	-35	0.4
Total Imports		13,292,281	9,369,719	-30

Note: The total amount of imports ($) are the total imports' value

          from all countries, not the top ten countries only.

 

 

□ Customs Import Duty Rate

 

 ○ Reference to the Egyptian ‘Customs Tariff Book’, the customs duty rates imposed on the imported HS Code 3808930 are demonstrated below:

 

Import Tariff Rates

HS Code	Description	Import Duty
3808930	Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, anit-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators, disinfectants and similar products, put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles (for example, sulphur-treated bands, wicks and candles, and fly-papers).    - Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators	5%

 

 ○ Again according to the CAPMAS, the following table demonstrates the current status of pesticides’ exports in year 2009~2010:

 

Year 2010

Rank	Country	Export Value ($)	Export Share (%)
1	Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia	149,992	86
2	Kingdom of Jordan	23,615	14
Total Exports		173,607	100

 

Year 2009

Rank	Country	Export Value ($)	Export Share (%)
1	Kingdom of Jordan	89,662	65.359
2	Sudan	37,062	27.016
3	Turkey	10,094	7.358
4	Tunisia	360	0.262
5	United Arab Emirates	6	0.004
Total Exports		137,184	100

 

 

 

 

4. Competition

 

 ○ According to the Agriculture Pesticide Committee(APC), working under the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, there are a lot of circulated and registered pesticides in the Egyptian market and they count for more than 670 different types of pesticides. Each of these pesticides has its own function and purpose for a certain crop. In addition, each pesticide has its own chemical compound that differentiates it from any other pesticides.

 

 ○ In the Egyptian pesticide market, competition is not determined by brands of pesticides as it is mainly determined by the Egyptian company whether it is a manufacturer, commercial agent, importer, or even distributor instead. Some pesticides’ importers added that the imports’ volume of year 2010 were less than the imports’ volume of year 2009; which means that the market has shown a decline in the growth rate. The market has shown a decline in the growth rate because the market of pesticides was saturated by many market players.

     Therefore, the competition in the market of pesticides is fierce because there are many players and as previously mentioned the market is saturated. The following table illustrates some of the major companies or market players, available in the Egyptian market, and have local market presence:

 

Egyptian Company	Market Share (%)
Bio Egypt	45
Wadi El Nil	40
Maba Import and Export	15

 

 ○ According to the Bio Egypt, Wadi El Nil, and Maba Import and Export, the following products are their widely sold pesticides that have a strong local market presence:

 

Rhizo - N: (Bacillus spp) + BiO Active	Plant Guard (Trichoderma spp.) + BiO Film
BiO - Fly: (Beauveria bassiana) + BiO Film	BiO - Nema: (Bacillus spp.)
BiO - Guard: (Bacillus threngenesis).	NemaToxeen

 

 ○ Rhizo - N: (Bacillus spp) + BiO Active, Plant Guard (Trichoderma spp.) + BiO Film, BiO - Fly: (Beauveria bassiana) + BiO Film, BiO - Nema: (Bacillus spp.), BiO - Guard: (Bacillus threngenesis), and NemaToxeen. Rhizo - N: (Bacillus spp) + BiO Active is used to protect seeds against soil pathogens, seedlings against soil pathogens, and finally to protect plants against welt diseases. Plant Guard (Trichoderma spp.) + BiO Film is used to protect the canopy against Mildews, Blights &Air born disease. BiO - Fly: (Beauveria bassiana) + BiO Film is used to control white flies, red Spiders, mites, aphids, Lepidoptera, and cleoptera eggs.  BiO - Nema: (Bacillus spp.) is used to control the plant pathogenic nematodes in case of mild infections. BiO - Guard: (Bacillus threngenesis) is used to control the worms which attack plants. Finally, NemaToxeen is used to control plant pathogenic nematodes in case of severe infections.

 

 ※ Source: Egyptian Buyers  

 

 

5. General Price

 

 ○ The prices of pesticides differ according to many variables such as the purpose, chemical compound, country of origin, size, and number of functions that a single pesticide can do for a crop. Approximately the prices of pesticides, for a cubic meter, range from 50,000 EGP to 70,000 EGP or even more depending on the purpose, chemical compound, country of origin, size, and number of functions that a single pesticide can do for a crop as previously mentioned. The following table is presenting some of the pesticides and their prices in the Egyptian market:

 

Pesticides (Type)	Size		Price (EGP)
Abiguard	50	gram	22
Admiral 8%	250	cm	89
Admiral 8%	500	cm	165
Admiral 8%	1	liter	256
Baroque 10%	250	cm	131
Baroque 10%	100	cm	58
Rizulx 50%	500	gram	132
Rizulx 50%	250	gram	67.5
Sumi Eight 5%	240	cm	68
Sumi Eight 5%	70	cm	28
Starner 20%	1	kg	500
Somethion 50%	1	liter	140
Chjarin 30%	500	cm	200
Avant 15%	5205	cm	45
Okoagn Pro 25%	80	gram	55
Bunch 40%	18	cm	35
Jeranstar 75%	8	gram	40
Vaidit 10%	10	kg	810
Vaidit means 24%	5	liter	865
Vaidit means 24%	1	liter	180
Pick Up 90%	100	gram	24.5
73% Korzat - R-51	1	kg	96
Golver	24	gram	236
Admir 20%	100	cm	63
Admir 20%	250	cm	170
Antrakul 70%	500	gram	43
Antrakul 70%	1	kg	80
Toktheon 50%	250	cm	29
Nimacor 1%	25	kg	1900
To Ibasid 50%	250	cm	53
Monsrin 25%	100	gram	190
Slfullak 80%	25	kg	18
Tarja Super 5%	1100	liter	135
Sanmat 20%	80	gram	39
Serias 10%	400	gram	115
Vertu 5%	200	cm	82
Vertu 5%	250	cm	42
Avscut S 50%	10	gram	92

 

Crop	Disease	Type	Size		Price (EGP)
Peanuts	Seed Treatment	Moncut 25%	100	gram	21
Mango	Mealy Whiteness	Sulfur Makrona (preventive)	750	gram	6
		Tillet 25%	100	cm	52
		Bunch 40%	18	cm	23
		Bellaz 38%	300	gram	200
		Amstar top 32.5%	200	cm	185
		Amstar 25%	200	cm	130
	Leaves’ Spots	Score 25%	100	cm	65
		Kipriutob 60%	1	gram	385
		Krbendazim 50%	1	liter	90
	Antheraknuz	Buliram EDF 80%	1	liter	70
		Comoseed 53.8%	1	kg	60
		Champion 77%	1	kg	55
		Kopeix 50%	1	kg	45
		Krbendazim 50%	1	liter	90
Strawberry	Fruit Molds	Talldor 50%	1	liter	650
		Switch 50%	1	kg	950
		Captan 50%	1	kg	110

Source: Grace Mena Egypt El Neshawy

 

 

6. Distribution Structure

 

 ○ The pesticides are usually distributed through the manufacturer to other suppliers in the distribution or supply chain. The manufacturers export their pesticides directly to the agents or importers who act as authorized distributors. Subsequently, the agents or importers of the agribusiness industry, who act as authorized distributors, approach the farmers or farming companies to supply them with their pesticides. Finally, the farmers or farming companies use the pesticides and deliver the crops to the consumers or what so called ‘end user’.

 

 ○ Concerning the local manufacturers, the same supply chain applies except that local manufacturers approach the farmers or farming companies directly to supply them with their pesticides.

 

 

     Thus, some people believe that the distribution channel of pesticides is mainly through agents or import and export companies or distribution outlets. The leading companies in the field of agribusiness either manufacture locally or they import from major international companies. These leading companies are either distributors or agents for the international companies. Therefore the Egyptian companies that present the international companies are the one who are responsible for distributing the products locally in Egypt among farming companies and local farmers.

 

 

7. Certification Information

 

□ The Agriculture Pesticide Committee, working under the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, said that there are several certifications and procedures needed to register and certify a pesticide in the Egyptian market. According to Professor Mostafa Saleh, General Secretary of the Agricultural Pesticides Committee(APC) in Egypt, some of the required certifications and documents needed include an ‘authorization letter’ which should be issued by the producing company to the local company to enable it to register, import and distribute the product in Egypt. The local Egyptian company will also need the ‘registration certificate’ for the product in its original country. In addition to the ‘certificate of analysis’ for the product including the active and inert ingredients percent. Another certification needed is the ‘quality guarantee certificate’ for the physical and chemical properties of the product from the producer company. In case of repacking by the local company, the mother company should guarantee the product after repacking. The original label of the product in its original country will also be needed, in addition to the ‘Material Safety Data Sheet(MSDS)’ for the product. For bio-pesticides as an example, Agriculture Pesticide Committee requires a ‘certificate of definition and percentage of relevant impurities’ and the method of relevant impurities.

 

□ Generally speaking, Agriculture Pesticide Committee will inquire about the recent position and classification of the product in EC, EPA and international organizations. PHI, MRL, and ADI of the product suggested from international organizations, EC and EPA. ‘Certificate of analysis’ as well as ‘certificate of analysis’, for the relevant impurities issued from Central Agricultural Pesticides Laboratory(CAPL) for the product, will also be required. The Agriculture Pesticide Committee will require companies to provide a ‘certificate of local PHI’ issued from the CAPL. Finally, ‘certificate of registration’ which is issued upon the recommendation after the field experiment for two sequent and symmetric seasons. The validity of registration certificate is six years.

 

□ Procedures for Pesticides Registration in Egypt

 

 ○ The stakeholder presents a pesticide-registration application on form (a) referred to in the Ministerial Decree No. 662 of 2008. Attached to it are the document(s) showing that the registration fees are paid, and a file containing the required technical data and authorized documents issued by the competent authorities referred to in form (b) of the Ministerial Decree No. 662 of 2008. (The components of this file are usually collected and completed during the experimental years while the file presented with the application form is preliminary).

 

 ○ After the approval of the preliminary file, the stakeholder presents a preliminary program containing all the required data for a suggested efficacy testing of the pesticide. This program is reviewed by the committee secretariat.

 

 ○ After reviewing and approving of the program by both parties, the stakeholder presents four original copies of it and the pesticide is set for the first year trial program. The four originals should be handed to and kept by:

  - The experimentation officer assigned by the Agricultural Pesticides Committee in the competent Institution or Laboratory

  - The Pesticides Central Laboratory

  - The Stakeholder

  - The Committee Secretariat

 

 ○ The pesticide is experimented for a certain period that depends on its chemical group and in accordance with article 6 of the Ministerial Decree No. 662 of 2008 as follows:     

  - Traditional pesticides; three successive and similar agricultural seasons.

  - Biopesticides and Plant Extracts; two successive and similar agricultural seasons.

  - Copper compounds, sulfur, mineral oils and different types of attractants provided that they are not mixed with traditional pesticides; one agricultural season. 

 

 ○ According to article 5 of the Ministerial Decree No. 662 of 2008, the pesticide is not to be registered before the Pesticide Central Laboratory identifies its chemical and physical properties, upon which the registration is based, nor before it passes all the experimental phases and shows acceptable efficacy against the targeted pest.

 

 ○ In case the pesticide passes the experimental phases and meets the technical criteria, a recommendation notice for the results is issued in accordance with the experiments results and its approval by the competent research laboratory or institution. The recommendation notice should be signed by the person in charge of experimentation at the competent institution, submitted to the committee and authorized by its secretary. 

 

 ○ The Agricultural Pesticides Committee issues its approval of registering the pesticide after the registration file and the pesticide dossier is judged according to form (2) attached to the Ministerial Decree No. 662 of 2008. Prior to this, the committee should be informed with the results of judgment and should approve as per article 9.

 

 ○ The registration certificate is issued according to form (5) attached to the Ministerial Decree No. 662 of 2008 and is signed by either the Chairman or the Vice Chairman of the committee. Prior to this, it should be insured that the active ingredient is included in Annex (1) attached to the Ministerial Decree No. 630 if 2007. 

 

 ○ The registration certificate is issued in three copies; one given to the applicant, one kept in the Committee Secretariat and the third sent to the Pesticide Central Laboratory (article 6 of the ministerial decree No. 662 of 2008). 

 

 ○ The registration certificate is valid for and expires after six years from the date of issuing, as reported in article 11 of the Ministerial Decree No. 622 of 2008.  Registering the efficacy of the pesticide is a must before the first three years of the validity of the registration certificate lapses.  

 

 ※ Notes:

1.  Scientific regional offices of pesticides manufacturing firms functioning in Egypt (Dow Agro Science - Depon - Passive -  Sumitomo - Rotam Agrochemical - Singnit) are not certified to trade in agricultural pesticides.

 

2.  Importing of pesticides should not be approved of unless the applicant or importer is certified to trade in pesticides, according to article 18 of the Ministerial Decree No. 622 of 2008. Shipments are released only when presenting a copy of a valid agricultural pesticides trading certification. 

 

 ※ Source: Agriculture Pesticide Committee, Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture