Reducing Pesticide Use in Agricultural Products: A Policy Brief

Consumption of thousands of tons of industrial chemicals in agriculture, such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides, has created significant environmental problems. The regulations for the import, production, formulation, and utilization of chemical, biological and organic fertilizers and pesticides are not completely implemented in Iran. According to the latest notification of the Jihad Agriculture Minister entitled "Instructions for monitoring the production and health promotion of plant products" (1095/020-06/04/2022), the Ministry of Health is the body responsible for investigating and monitoring the remaining of chemical compounds (pesticides, fertilizers, growth regulators, plant hormones, nitrates, and heavy metals). Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences Food and Drug Deputy in collaboration with Research and Technology Deputy, The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences Food and Drug Organization, Provincial Agricultural Jihad Organization, Provincial Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Agricultural and Natural Resources Engineering Organization of Iran, Iran National Standards Organization, and Environment Protection Agency aim at regulating the utilization of chemical pesticides in agricultural products (strategic products) in Mazandaran province to control the consumption of pesticides in agricultural products and minimize their potential risk to human health and the environment. The main solutions include generating QR Code in the integrated electronic services system of the Organization of Agricultural Engineering and Natural Resources and issuing certificates for product improvement in the Electronic Agricultural Permits System in order to register plant products in production units.