Indonesia Urges Farmers to Avoid Pesticide Use to Meet Stricter Chinese Import Standards

Jakarta, Indonesia – In light of increasingly stringent food safety regulations imposed by China, Indonesian agricultural officials are urging farmers to significantly reduce or avoid pesticide use on crops destined for export to the Chinese market. The call comes amid China’s recent implementation of tougher Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and enhanced inspection, quarantine, and food safety standards aimed at imported fruits, vegetables, grains, and other agro-products.

Under these new requirements, Chinese customs and inspection authorities are rejecting shipments containing pesticide residue above permissible thresholds, leading to financial losses, potential export bans, and reputational damage for Indonesian exporters. To safeguard trade and access to China, Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture, in coordination with trade and food safety agencies, is rolling out a multi-pronged strategy focused on awareness, training, alternative pest control, and regulatory compliance.

Key Drivers Behind the Push

• Regulatory tightening in China. China has notified updated national food safety standards concerning MRLs for pesticides in food, spanning a wide range of food items. These standards are being enforced with more rigorous testing of imported produce. (National Food Safety Standard of Maximum Residue Limits – notified to WTO)
• Trade risk for Indonesian exporters. Indonesian growers who fail to comply with the new standards risk having their shipments detained, rejected, or destroyed at the border, which undermines export volume and income for farmers.
• Health and environmental concerns. Beyond trade, the use of certain pesticides has drawn criticism domestically for potential adverse effects on farm workers’ health, soil, water sources, and biodiversity.

Government Measures and Support

To address the challenge, the Indonesian government is implementing several measures:

• Training and capacity building. Extension services are being expanded to educate farmers on pesticide alternatives, integrated pest management (IPM), and organic or low-residue production methods.
• Monitoring and certification. Government bodies are improving testing infrastructure and certification schemes to ensure compliance with China’s MRLs before export.
• Incentivizing residue-free production. Financial and technical incentives are being considered for farmers who adopt residue-free or low-chemical farming methods, including access to better seeds, biocontrol agents, and support for organic fertilizers.
• Regulatory alignment. Indonesia is reviewing its own pesticide registration and allowable residue thresholds to ensure they align with, or exceed, Chinese import standards in order to reduce the gap in compliance requirements.

Challenges Facing Farmers

Despite government support, farmers face several roadblocks:

• Cost and accessibility of alternatives. Organic or biocontrol pest management solutions are often more expensive or less available than conventional pesticides.
• Knowledge gaps. Many smallholder farmers are unaware of the new Chinese residue limits or do not have access to lab testing to verify compliance before export.
• Market pressures. Time-sensitive harvests and yield concerns often push farmers to use chemical pesticides to avoid losses due to pests, even at environmental or health risk.

Implications for Trade and Economy

If successfully adopted, the transition toward low-pesticide or residue-free agriculture could strengthen Indonesia’s position in key export markets, especially in China, which remains a major destination for Indonesian agro-products. It could also attract premium prices in global markets increasingly driven by food safety and sustainability concerns.

However, failure to adapt could lead to trade disruptions, financial losses for growers, and loss of competitiveness vs other exporting countries already complying with strict safety regimes. The international trend toward harmonisation of standards (through frameworks such as WTO notifications, bilateral trade agreements, and regional standard-setting bodies) means these pressures are likely to intensify rather than abate.

What Farmers Can Do Now

• Adopt integrated pest management (IPM) methods including biological controls, crop rotation, and pest‐resistant varieties.
• Use only approved pesticides, strictly adhering to prescribed pre-harvest intervals to ensure residues decline to acceptable levels.
• Document all pesticide use, maintain records for traceability.
• Seek certification from recognized food safety and export compliance programs.
• Access government or NGO-provided training and resources for reduced pesticide or organic methods.

For Indonesian agriculture, the message is clear: to maintain and grow exports to China, minimizing pesticide use isn’t just a regulatory compliance task—it’s now a strategic imperative.