FAO Pesticide Management
Pesticide Specifications and Quality Control Standards

FAO is publishing specifications for pesticides and their related formulations, as well the accompanying manual on the development of these specifications. The New Manual is now available.

The purpose of these publications is to provide:

• a normal standard of quality for the buying and selling of pesticides
• assistance in the official approval and acceptance of pesticides
• protection for responsible vendors against inferior products
• a link between biological efficacy and specification requirements
• an international point of reference

FAO Specifications for Agricultural Pesticides

• FAO Specifications for Agricultural Pesticides - (based on the old procedure) . These specifications were developed based on the old procedure (developed up to 1999). This procedure is no longer applied by FAO, however, copies available for immediate download (Word 6.0 format or PDF Format) are highlighted and next to the  green arrow .
• FAO Specifications for Agricultural Pesticides - (following the new procedure ). Following the New Procedure (introduced in 1999) copies available for immediate download (PDF - format) are highlighted and next to the brown arrow .

Withdrawal of FAO specifications developed under the old procedure for which the methods for impurities are not included, and specifications are no longer supported by industry.

Yearly programme for the development of FAO/WHO Specifications, from year 2002

Status Report of the Development of FAO Specifications

Meetings on Pesticide Specifications

Call for submission of applications to establish a roster of experts as candidates for membership of the FAO Panel of the JMPS

Contains detailed definitions and other background information to facilitate the development and use of the specifications.  This latest edition of the Manual describes in detail the new procedure for the development of FAO/WHO Specifications, applicable since 2002. 
The Manual is now available in Spanish and Chinese.  It is published as FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 173 and hence available in International bookstores.