An important early step is identifying key markets (i.e. crops and their pests) that might benefit most from biology-based IPM. BCA are, by their very nature, limited to a limited number of target pests and cannot be compared with ‘block-buster’ chemicals that have large markets. It is vital to provide a regulatory environment that encourages development by SME producers: with measures to simplify, harmonise and minimise the cost of procedures rather than adding regulatory burdens. Removing the barriers to development and distribution of effective BCA products must be accompanied by ‘weeding out’ poor products that risk damaging the reputation of biological control. It is important therefore to ensure that rigorous (and therefore possibly expensive) quality control procedures are maintained for these products, while convincing the private sector of the potential profitability of biocontrol and motivating investment. National, or preferably a regional professional association would be a useful driver for BCA production and could also broker mutual recognition of national regulations. Production of certain BCA by the farmer himself has been promoted in many countries through farmer-field-schools programmes and is also practiced in Southeast Asia. The regional BCA experts concluded that mass production in farmers’ hands, although certainly beneficial, would not guarantee the quality and quantity of commercial BCA that is actually required. With microbials, the level of rigorous quality control required (35) usually precludes local production, with the possible exception of very vigorous Trichoderma isolates. Public BCA producers frequently have not managed to acquire registration for their research products or a reasonable commercialisation. It was therefore acknowledged that the private sector will play a key role in the sustainability of production when it comes to large-scale manufacture. It is incumbent on Registration Authorities to provide scrutiny of the post-registration processes that ensure maintenance of product quality and thus the continued reputation of BCA as useful tools for pest management. As discussed above, it is not usually the role of regulators to carry out quality controls, but they can demand and check that appropriate standard operating procedures (SOP) have been put in place for manufacturing and distribution: to internationally acceptable standards. The product label, which is the primary point of communication between the producer and the 51 5.2 Availability 5.3 Reliability users, must be clear and accurate. It is crucial to ensure that: • The contents of BCA products are ‘what they say on the bottle’; • Concentrations, expiry dates, etc. as appropriate are clearly shown; • Specific and appropriate advice is given on product application.
Implementing Biological Control Agents in the ASEAN Region
To see the actual publication please follow the link above