semiochemicals, this has proved to be difficult, because efficacy testing cannot be compared to chemical pesticides (i.e. killing agents). Therefore, applicants have had to declare their crop protection claims very carefully; the complexity of field testing protocols increases with the following sequence of claims: Trapping efficacy Pest population reduction Crop damage reduction Crop yield improvement Consequently, only "trapping efficacy" was proposed as the main objective for field testing, while other parameters (such as population reduction, damage reduction, or yield improvement) should remain an issue between BCA supplier and farmer, and their testing ought not to be part of the registration procedure. To help applicants in ASEAN and to foster mutual recognition of dossiers, harmonised field testing protocols should be made available7. In Thailand, semiochemicals are declared as industrial chemicals, with much lower regulatory requirements (only a MSDS). In addition, there are much lower taxes on industrial chemicals than on pesticides. Indonesia has a considerable number of BCA registered as semiochemicals, but possibly this regulatory classification needs revision, for example, in the case of synthetic attractants or repellents (there is no repellent product registered for agricultural use in ASEAN, only for household use). In Malaysia, semiochemicals are widely used commercially throughout the country and also exported to Indonesia. Malaysia does not require registering semiochemicals, and therefore there are no semiochemicals used as "pesticides". In other AMS, semiochemicals are at the research phase and not commercially available, or information is still lacking (cf. Minutes of the 3rd work meeting of the ASEAN BCA expert groups). Natural plant extracts, often known as ‘botanicals’ include a wide variety of substances with different properties and biological activity. Registered products which appear to be widely used in Southeast Asia include various extracts of the Indian neem tree (effectively azadirachtin: the leading botanical active ingredient), natural pyrethrum, ginseng extract, saponin, rotenone, capsaicin, garlic and various oil extracts. With 60 different botanical products, Vietnam shows the highest number of registrations in this category (Table 1). The importance of botanicals is further underscored by the fact that many unregistered products are circulating in the market, often produced by research institutes, small private manufacturers, or even by farmers themselves. Useful details of manufacturers and references are included in the ABC database, the BCPC Manual and Biopesticides of Plant Origin (42), respectively. Internationally recognised lists of ‘safe’ botanicals exist, which include those considered of minimum risk and should not need further toxicological testing. These are categorised as ‘reduced-risk’ or have a history of ‘safe-use’. However, the botanical group includes substances such as rotenone - a WHO/EPA toxicity class II compound – so as with microbials, it is important not to 23 2.4 Natural (botanical and other) products 7 See Minutes of the 3rd EWG meeting and Appendix III
Implementing Biological Control Agents in the ASEAN Region
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