Armenia Considers Allowing Pesticide and Agrochemical Imports Without Lab Tests from Select Countries

Armenia is moving towards easing regulations on the import of certain pesticides and agrochemicals from specific countries, potentially allowing them to bypass local laboratory testing. This proposal was discussed during a session of Armenia’s National Assembly on Tuesday, led by Deputy Minister of Economy Tatevik Sargsyan.

The legislative changes focus on simplifying the process for importing agrochemicals, especially from countries where the quality standards for such products are already high. Under this initiative, pesticides and agrochemicals from select developed nations could enter Armenia without undergoing additional testing in local labs.

Sargsyan explained that the proposed amendments aim to fill gaps in Armenia's existing phytosanitary laws, which govern plant health and the safety of agricultural chemicals. According to the deputy minister, countries with stringent regulations for agrochemical production and testing, like those in the European Union, maintain high enough quality standards that further inspections in Armenia would be unnecessary.

“In developed countries, there are already strict requirements regarding the quality of pesticides and agrochemicals, so there is no need for additional checks when these products are imported to Armenia,” said Sargsyan during her presentation to Parliament.

The key change in the legislation involves creating a simplified import process for pesticides and agrochemicals from trusted countries. The Armenian government will compile a list of countries whose products can be imported without local testing. This list will be determined by government decision and will focus on countries with rigorous quality controls already in place.

For instance, under the new rules, biological pesticides and agrochemicals, including pheromones, produced and tested in approved foreign countries would not require registration numbers from the importing country. However, other pesticides would still need toxicological and hygienic tests. These tests could either be conducted by accredited organizations in Armenia or based on results from tests performed in other nations.

Sargsyan emphasized that this measure is essential for improving Armenia’s agricultural sector, ensuring that farmers have access to quality pesticides and agrochemicals without unnecessary delays. The law will also make it easier for Armenia to stay competitive in regional and international agricultural markets by aligning with the standards of developed nations.