The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has issued the Agricultural Pesticides Guide (1448 AH - 2026 AD), in a step aimed at regulating the registration, trade, and use of agricultural pesticides according to the approved regulations and systems in the Kingdom, thereby enhancing governance of the sector, consolidating the application of best scientific and regulatory practices, and raising the level of safety in pesticide use.

The Ministry explained that the guide serves as a comprehensive national reference for agricultural pesticides, aiming to provide updated lists of registered and authorized pesticides, as well as clarify restricted and banned pesticides, and disseminate technical guidelines related to safe use and pre-harvest intervals, thereby contributing to the protection of public health and the environment, and supporting farmers and beneficiaries with scientific information on agricultural pests and integrated control measures.

It stated that the guide contains comprehensive scientific and regulatory content, including approved definitions and terminology, pesticide label data, detailed lists of insecticides, acaricides, nematicides, fungicides, and herbicides, in addition to plant growth regulators, biological control agents, and spreaders, with clarification of use patterns, application rates, pre-harvest intervals, and trade names of registered pesticides, as well as lists of restricted and banned pesticides, thereby enhancing users' compliance with technical and regulatory instructions.

The Ministry affirmed that the issuance of the guide is an extension of its efforts to develop the agricultural pesticide management system and transition to a scientific approach based on risk management and rational use, in line with best practices and international standards, contributing to the sustainability of agricultural production, enhancing food security, and reducing health and environmental risks.

The Ministry stressed the importance of verifying the pesticide label data and approved registration number before use, and adhering to the technical instructions and specified pre-harvest intervals before using pesticides or harvesting crops, to ensure the safety of agricultural products and protect human health and the environment.