How to Master Fungicide and Insecticide Technicals? The Complete Sourcing Guide

In the agrochemical industry, fungicide technical and insecticide technical materials are the backbone of crop protection formulations. These high-purity active ingredients—typically manufactured at 90–99%+ purity—are what formulators blend with carriers, solvents, and adjuvants to produce the end-use products farmers apply in the field. Understanding their chemistry, performance benchmarks, regulatory requirements, and supply-chain dynamics is essential for procurement officers, formulators, and agronomists alike.

What Are Fungicide Technical and Insecticide Technical Materials?

Technical-grade agrochemicals refer to active ingredients (AIs) produced at or near their highest attainable purity before any formulation step. The term "technical" distinguishes the raw AI from a finished product such as an emulsifiable concentrate (EC), wettable powder (WP), or suspension concentrate (SC).

Fungicide technical materials are compounds synthesized to kill or suppress fungal pathogens that damage crops. Common chemistries include triazoles (tebuconazole, propiconazole), strobilurins (azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin), benzimidazoles (carbendazim), and SDHI fungicides (boscalid, fluxapyroxad). A typical commercial technical-grade tebuconazole, for instance, carries a purity specification of ≥97% with defined limits on specific impurities.

Insecticide technical materials are compounds manufactured to control insect pests. Major chemistries include pyrethroids (cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin), organophosphates (chlorpyrifos, profenofos), neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam), and diamides (chlorantraniliprole). Lambda-cyhalothrin technical, for example, is typically supplied at ≥90% purity, and chlorantraniliprole technical at ≥95%.

Why Technical Purity Matters: Performance and Regulatory Implications

The purity of a technical material is not merely a commercial specification—it directly affects biological efficacy, human safety, environmental fate, and registration status.

Efficacy Correlation with Purity

Lower purity means more impurities competing with the active ingredient for biological targets, potentially reducing dose-response performance. A study comparing two batches of propiconazole technical at 92% and 97% purity showed a 12–15% difference in ED₅₀ values against Fusarium graminearum, meaning the lower-purity batch required significantly higher application rates to achieve the same disease control. Formulators who source lower-grade technical materials risk failing efficacy trials and batch-to-batch inconsistency.

Regulatory Specifications

Regulatory agencies including the US EPA, EFSA (EU), and China's ICAMA publish reference specifications for each registered technical AI. These specifications define:

• Minimum active ingredient content (%)
• Maximum limits for relevant impurities (often carcinogenic or genotoxic impurities at ppm or ppb levels)
• Physical and chemical properties (water content, pH, melting point)
• Analytical methods for verification (HPLC, GC)

Any technical material supplied for use in a registered product must meet or exceed these reference specifications. Deviations can trigger product recalls, registration suspension, or liability for crop damage.

Impurity Profiles and Safety

Some manufacturing processes generate toxic byproducts. Chlorpyrifos technical produced via older synthesis routes may contain elevated levels of chlorpyrifos-oxon, a more acutely toxic metabolite. Modern manufacturers targeting export to regulated markets routinely perform full impurity profiling by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS to demonstrate safety equivalence with the registered reference source.

Major Categories of Fungicide Technical Materials

Fungicide technical materials span multiple mode-of-action classes, each with distinct biochemical targets, resistance profiles, and market positions.

Triazole Fungicides Technical

Triazoles are the largest single class of fungicide technicals by volume and value. They inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis (DMI fungicides—demethylation inhibitors), disrupting fungal cell membrane integrity. Key technical materials in this class include:

• Tebuconazole technical – Widely used against rusts, smuts, and Fusarium in cereals. Global technical production exceeds 20,000 metric tons annually. Purity standard: ≥97%.
• Propiconazole technical – Excellent systemicity; used in cereals, turf, and wood preservation. Purity standard: ≥95%.
• Difenoconazole technical – Broad spectrum, including scab and anthracnose control. Often combined with azoxystrobin.
• Epoxiconazole technical – Highly effective against septoria in wheat; under regulatory review in the EU for endocrine disruption concerns.

Strobilurin Fungicides Technical

Strobilurins (QoI fungicides—quinone outside inhibitors) block mitochondrial respiration in fungi. They are protective rather than curative and are primarily used in mixture products to manage resistance.

• Azoxystrobin technical – One of the highest-volume fungicide AIs globally, effective against downy and powdery mildew, rusts, and blights.
• Pyraclostrobin technical – Notable for documented plant health (greening) effects beyond pure disease control. Purity ≥96%.
• Trifloxystrobin technical – Vapor-phase activity; excellent rainfastness.

SDHI Fungicides Technical

Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) are among the most rapidly growing fungicide classes. They target complex II of the fungal respiratory chain.

• Boscalid technical – Broad-spectrum; widely used in vegetables, fruits, and cereals.
• Fluxapyroxad technical – Among the most potent SDHIs; strong activity against Botrytis cinerea.
• Isopyrazam technical – Excellent systemic movement and residual activity.

Multisite and Biological Fungicide Technicals

Multisite fungicides such as mancozeb technical, chlorothalonil technical, and copper compounds remain essential for resistance management despite their older chemistry profiles. Mancozeb technical is one of the highest-volume fungicides globally at well over 100,000 metric tons of active ingredient per year, primarily used in developing market applications and as mixture partners.

Major Categories of Insecticide Technical Materials

Insecticide technical materials are similarly diverse, spanning multiple biochemical target sites and application niches.

Pyrethroid Insecticides Technical

Pyrethroids are synthetic analogs of natural pyrethrins and act as sodium channel modulators. They are the dominant insecticide class by volume in many markets.

• Cypermethrin technical – Broad-spectrum contact and stomach insecticide; widely used in cotton, vegetables, and public health. Purity: ≥93%.
• Lambda-cyhalothrin technical – High intrinsic activity at low use rates (25–75 g AI/ha). Purity: ≥90%.
• Deltamethrin technical – Single isomer pyrethroid with excellent knockdown; widely used in public health vector control.
• Bifenthrin technical – Notable soil activity and long residual; used extensively in turf and ornamentals.

Neonicotinoid Insecticides Technical

Neonicotinoids act as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists and are the highest-selling insecticide class globally, with combined sales exceeding USD 3 billion annually. Key technical materials include:

• Imidacloprid technical – Systemic activity; used as seed treatment, soil application, and foliar spray. Purity: ≥97%.
• Thiamethoxam technical – Exceptionally strong systemic translocation; widely used in seed treatments.
• Clothianidin technical – High soil stability; effective against soil-dwelling pests.
• Acetamiprid technical – Lower acute toxicity to bees relative to other neonicotinoids; less restricted in some markets.

Diamide Insecticides Technical

Diamides (ryanodine receptor activators) are the fastest-growing premium insecticide class. Their high selectivity for insect over mammalian receptors gives them excellent safety profiles.

• Chlorantraniliprole technical – Highly effective against lepidopteran larvae; used extensively in rice, corn, vegetables, and fruit. Global sales exceed USD 1.5 billion annually.
• Cyantraniliprole technical – Extended spectrum to include some sap-sucking insects.
• Flubendiamide technical – Excellent residual control in difficult-to-penetrate canopies.

Organophosphate Insecticides Technical

Despite regulatory pressure in developed markets, organophosphates remain critically important in developing market agriculture due to their low cost and broad spectrum. Key technical materials include chlorpyrifos, profenofos, dimethoate, and malathion. Chlorpyrifos technical global production remains substantial at estimated 20,000–30,000 metric tons annually, with most destined for use in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Global Market Overview: Supply, Demand, and Trade Flows

The fungicide and insecticide technical market is dominated by Chinese manufacturers, who account for an estimated 60–70% of global technical-grade AI production. Understanding trade flows is essential for supply chain risk management.

China's Role as the Dominant Technical Producer

China manufactures the majority of off-patent fungicide and insecticide technical materials. Provinces including Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang, and Hubei are home to hundreds of agrochemical manufacturing facilities. China's cost advantages stem from lower labor costs, established precursor chemical supply chains, and government-supported industrial clusters. However, increasing environmental enforcement since 2017 has led to the closure or suspension of hundreds of smaller, non-compliant plants, tightening supply and pushing prices upward for several key technicals.

India as an Emerging Technical Manufacturer

India has grown significantly as a producer of both fungicide and insecticide technical materials, particularly imidacloprid, mancozeb, and various pyrethroids. Indian manufacturers benefit from strong chemical engineering talent, growing domestic demand, and strategic export positioning. Companies such as PI Industries, Dhanuka Agritech, and Bharat Rasayan have invested heavily in technical manufacturing capabilities.

Quality Assurance for Technical Grade Materials

For buyers and formulators, robust quality assurance protocols are non-negotiable when sourcing fungicide technical and insecticide technical materials.

Key Analytical Tests for Technical Materials

1. Active Ingredient Content (HPLC or GC) – Confirms the primary assay meets specification, e.g., ≥97% for tebuconazole technical. This is the single most critical quality parameter.
2. Relevant Impurity Profile – Quantification of specified impurities (process-related and degradation products) using GC-MS or LC-MS/MS. For example, chlorpyrifos technical must meet limits for 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP).
3. Water Content (Karl Fischer) – Excess moisture can catalyze hydrolysis of sensitive AIs during storage.
4. Melting Point or Appearance – A quick physical check; deviations from expected values signal contamination or adulteration.
5. Heavy Metals – Especially relevant for dithiocarbamate fungicides like mancozeb, where total metal content (Mn + Zn) defines potency.
6. Isomer Ratio (for chiral AIs) – Pyrethroids like cypermethrin consist of multiple stereoisomers with different efficacy and toxicity profiles. Alpha-cypermethrin technical, for instance, is specified as a 1:1 mixture of two specific cis-isomer pairs.

Certificate of Analysis and Third-Party Verification

Reputable technical suppliers provide a full Certificate of Analysis (CoA) with each batch, covering all specified parameters. For high-volume or regulated-market procurement, buyers should require independent verification through accredited laboratories (e.g., CIPAC-approved methods) rather than relying solely on supplier-issued CoAs. Several high-profile adulteration cases—including diluted neonicotinoid technicals and mislabeled pyrethroid isomers—have resulted in significant regulatory and commercial consequences for formulators who failed to perform independent testing.

Resistance Management: A Critical Challenge for Both Classes

Resistance to both fungicides and insecticides is one of the most economically significant challenges in modern crop protection, directly influencing how technical materials are developed, used, and regulated.

Fungicide Resistance

The Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) classifies fungicides by mode of action and resistance risk. High-risk classes—including strobilurins (FRAC Group 11) and many SDHI fungicides (FRAC Group 7)—are particularly prone to resistance development due to their single-site modes of action. QoI resistance (G143A mutation in cytochrome b) is now present in over 30 fungal species globally, including Blumeria graminis (powdery mildew), Phytophthora infestans, and multiple Alternaria species. This drives demand for mixture products combining technicals with different FRAC group classifications.

Insecticide Resistance

The Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) similarly classifies insecticides by mode of action. Target-site resistance mechanisms—particularly:

• Voltage-gated sodium channel mutations (kdr and super-kdr) conferring pyrethroid resistance
• Acetylcholinesterase mutations reducing organophosphate binding
• Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor mutations reducing neonicotinoid sensitivity

—have reduced the utility of once highly effective technical materials. Bemisia tabaci (whitefly) populations in many regions now exhibit resistance to 5 or more insecticide classes simultaneously, representing a severe crisis for formulated products built on these technicals.

Implications for Technical Material Selection

Resistance data directly impact which technical materials have commercial viability in specific geographies. Formulators developing products for resistance-heavy markets must select technical materials with modes of action that remain effective locally—requiring ongoing monitoring and adaptation of their active ingredient portfolios.

Regulatory Landscape for Fungicide and Insecticide Technical Registration

Registering a technical material is the prerequisite for any downstream formulated product registration. The regulatory data requirements, costs, and timelines vary dramatically by market.

United States (EPA)

The US EPA requires a complete technical registration dossier including: physical/chemical properties, manufacturing process description, full analytical method, a comprehensive toxicology package (typically 8–12 core studies), and environmental fate and ecotoxicology data. The cost of assembling a full data package for a new technical active ingredient can exceed USD 15–30 million. Generic technical manufacturers seeking to use existing data must either obtain authorization from the data owner or generate their own, or rely on data compensation agreements.

European Union (EFSA/ECHA)

EU active substance approval under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 is among the most stringent globally. EFSA evaluations now routinely include endocrine disruption assessments (under criteria defined in Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/605) and cumulative risk assessments. Several important technical materials—including chlorpyrifos and certain triazole fungicides—have been refused renewal in the EU on the basis of hazard-based criteria. The EU approval process typically takes 3–5 years from application submission.

China (ICAMA/MEE)

China's registration system, managed by the Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals (ICAMA) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, has become increasingly rigorous since the revised Pesticide Administration Regulation came into force in 2017. Full registration for a technical material requires a comprehensive dossier including efficacy, toxicology, residue, and environmental fate data. The process typically takes 2–4 years for new active ingredients. China also maintains a "similar product" review mechanism that can accelerate registration for me-too technicals with established safety profiles.

Data Exclusivity and Generic Entry

Data exclusivity provisions protect innovator data packages for defined periods—10 years in the EU, and variable periods in other jurisdictions. Generic technical manufacturers can enter the market after exclusivity expiration by either citing the original data (with compensation to the data owner) or generating new equivalent studies. The cost and time associated with meeting data requirements are major barriers to entry for new generic technical producers.

Formulation Considerations: From Technical to Finished Product

The chemical and physical properties of fungicide and insecticide technical materials directly determine which formulation types are feasible and commercially competitive.

Key Technical Properties That Drive Formulation Choice

Mixture Formulations

A very large proportion of commercial fungicide and insecticide products contain two or more technical active ingredients. Mixtures are designed to:

• Broaden the spectrum of pest or disease control
• Provide synergistic efficacy (documented synergy ratios of 2:1 to 5:1 for some combinations)
• Manage resistance through exposure to multiple modes of action
• Extend product life cycle as patents expire on individual components

Examples include: azoxystrobin + difenoconazole SC (Amistar Top®-style products) combining strobilurin and triazole fungicide technicals; and chlorantraniliprole + thiamethoxam SC (Virtako®-style products) combining diamide and neonicotinoid insecticide technicals.

Handling, Storage, and Safety Requirements

Fungicide and insecticide technical materials are concentrated chemical substances requiring stringent handling protocols.

Classification and Labeling

Technical materials are classified under the UN Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and the WHO Hazard Classification for pesticides. Many insecticide technicals—particularly organophosphates and certain pyrethroids—are classified as WHO Class Ia (Extremely Hazardous) or Class Ib (Highly Hazardous) at technical grade concentrations. Proper GHS labeling (signal word, hazard pictograms, H and P statements) is legally required for international shipment and domestic supply.

Storage Conditions

Most technical materials require:

• Storage in cool, dry conditions away from direct sunlight (many photolabile technicals degrade rapidly under UV exposure)
• Temperature ranges of 5–30°C for most materials; some require cold storage (e.g., certain biological-origin or thermolabile technical concentrates)
• Segregation from food, feed, oxidizers, and incompatible chemicals
• Containment systems adequate to prevent spill contamination of soil or water

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Workers handling technical-grade materials should use appropriate PPE based on hazard classification. For highly toxic insecticide technicals (e.g., profenofos, chlorpyrifos), this typically includes chemical-resistant gloves and apron, full-face respirator with appropriate cartridge, chemical-resistant footwear, and eye protection. Formulated products derived from these same technicals are considered significantly safer at lower concentrations, but the undiluted technical material represents a different risk profile entirely.

Sourcing Strategy: How to Evaluate Fungicide and Insecticide Technical Suppliers

For formulators, distributors, and procurement teams, selecting the right technical supplier is a strategic decision with long-term implications for product quality, regulatory compliance, and supply security.

Key Supplier Evaluation Criteria

1. Manufacturing registration and compliance – Supplier must hold valid registration (e.g., ICAMA production license in China, CIBRC license in India) and ideally have approval as a registered source in your target market countries.
2. Quality management system – ISO 9001 certification is a baseline; leading technical suppliers also hold ISO 14001 (environmental) and OHSAS 18001 (occupational health). GMP compliance is increasingly expected.
3. Analytical capability – Does the manufacturer operate an in-house QC laboratory with HPLC, GC, and LC-MS/MS capability? Can they provide method validation reports?
4. Capacity and redundancy – A supplier with a single reactor train for your critical technical is a supply risk. Prefer manufacturers with demonstrated production flexibility.
5. Regulatory track record – Review their history of regulatory audits, import alerts, or quality notifications in target markets.
6. Environmental and social compliance – Especially important for EU and US market supply chains. Check for environmental violations, wastewater discharge compliance, and worker safety record.

Dual Sourcing and Supply Chain Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) severely disrupted Chinese technical material production and logistics, causing price spikes of 30–80% for multiple key technicals including glyphosate technical, azoxystrobin technical, and cypermethrin technical. This experience accelerated the adoption of dual-sourcing strategies, with many multinational formulators now qualifying at least two independent technical sources (often one Chinese and one Indian supplier) for their highest-volume active ingredients.

Emerging Trends Shaping the Technical Market

Several significant trends are reshaping the fungicide and insecticide technical landscape over the next decade.

Green Chemistry and Reduced-Risk Technical Materials

Regulatory pressure in the EU and North America, combined with growing retailer and consumer demand for cleaner supply chains, is accelerating development of reduced-risk technical materials. These include:

• Biological-derived technicals – Semi-synthetic spinosyns (spinosad, spinetoram) derived from Saccharopolyspora spinosa fermentation; azadirachtin technical from neem.
• Isoxazoline insecticides – Afoxolaner, sarolaner (primarily veterinary use but with agrochemical crossover potential).
• Newer SDHI and carboxamide fungicides – With improved selectivity and lower environmental persistence compared to older chemistries.

Digital Integration in Technical Quality Assurance

Advanced analytical technologies including near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for rapid at-line quality screening, blockchain-based batch tracking, and AI-powered impurity prediction are beginning to appear in leading technical manufacturers' quality systems. These technologies enable faster release decisions while maintaining rigorous quality standards.

Patent Expiries Opening Generic Technical Opportunities

Several important premium technicals have recently lost or are approaching patent expiry, creating opportunities for generic technical manufacturers:

• Chlorantraniliprole – core patents expired ~2022–2023, triggering significant Chinese generic technical capacity investment
• Cyantraniliprole – approaching expiry in major markets
• Fluxapyroxad – subject to ongoing data exclusivity monitoring

Generic entry typically depresses technical prices by 30–60% within 3–5 years of patent expiry as multiple manufacturers compete on cost, as evidenced by the pricing trajectory of azoxystrobin and imidacloprid technicals following their respective off-patent transitions.

Environmental and Ecotoxicological Considerations

The environmental profile of a technical material is central to its regulatory status and long-term commercial viability.

Soil and Water Fate

Environmental fate endpoints critical for fungicide and insecticide technical assessment include soil half-life (DT₅₀), leaching potential (Koc/Kd), and aquatic persistence. Highly persistent technical materials with high leaching potential—such as imidacloprid (soil DT₅₀ up to 200+ days in some soils, relatively low Koc)—have attracted significant regulatory scrutiny due to groundwater protection concerns.

Non-Target Organism Effects

Ecotoxicology data required for technical registration typically includes acute and chronic toxicity to:

• Earthworms (Eisenia fetida)
• Soil microorganisms (nitrogen transformation test)
• Aquatic organisms (fish, Daphnia, algae)
• Honeybees (acute contact and oral; sublethal effects at larval stage)
• Avian species (bobwhite quail and mallard duck)

The discovery of significant sublethal effects of neonicotinoid insecticide technical materials on bee navigation, foraging, and reproduction has resulted in outdoor use restrictions on imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam technicals in the EU, representing one of the most significant regulatory restrictions in the history of the agrochemical technical market.

FAQ

What is the difference between fungicide technical and a fungicide formulated product?

Fungicide technical refers to the active ingredient in its purified, concentrated form—typically 90–99%+ purity—before any formulation. A formulated product is the finished, market-ready preparation that contains the technical AI blended with carriers, solvents, emulsifiers, and other inert ingredients to achieve a specific formulation type (EC, SC, WP, etc.) at the labeled use concentration.

Why do technical materials from different suppliers sometimes perform differently even at the same purity specification?

Purity specification covers only the main active ingredient content and listed impurities. Unlisted minor impurities—which may vary by manufacturing process—can affect biological activity, formulation compatibility, and stability. Crystal morphology and particle size of solid technicals can also affect dissolution rates in formulation and ultimately field performance. This is why leading formulators evaluate technical materials through full formulation development trials before supplier qualification, not just CoA review.

How do I verify that a fungicide or insecticide technical is registered for use in my target country?

You must check the relevant national regulatory authority's pesticide registration database. Examples include EPA's Pesticide Registration (US), the EU Pesticide Database (EU), ICAMA's registration database (China), and CIB's database (India). Registration of a technical material in the country of manufacture does not automatically authorize its use or importation for formulation in another country.

What analytical method should I use to verify insecticide technical purity?

The appropriate method depends on the specific active ingredient. CIPAC (Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council) publishes internationally harmonized analytical methods for most registered technical materials. These are the reference methods accepted by most regulatory authorities globally. For pyrethroids, GC with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) or GC-ECD is standard. For neonicotinoids and fungicides, HPLC-UV or HPLC-DAD methods are most commonly used.

What are the main risks of sourcing fungicide or insecticide technical from unverified suppliers?

Key risks include: receipt of substandard or adulterated materials (lower purity than claimed); materials with impurity profiles not conforming to registered reference specifications, which can result in regulatory non-compliance of the finished formulated product; supply chain disruption due to the supplier lacking adequate production capacity; and inability to support regulatory submissions in target markets if the supplier is not an approved registered source.

Are there specific shipping regulations for fungicide and insecticide technical materials?

Yes. Technical-grade agrochemicals are transported as hazardous materials under the UN Model Regulations, IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (air), IMDG Code (sea), and ADR/RID (road/rail in Europe). They must be classified, packaged, labeled, and documented in accordance with applicable regulations. Many insecticide technicals are classified as UN 3077 (Environmentally Hazardous Substance, Solid) or specific packing group II or III entries depending on toxicity classification.

How is the generic technical material market for chlorantraniliprole developing?

Chlorantraniliprole (CAP) technical is one of the most commercially significant materials approaching broad generic availability. Following core patent expiry in major markets around 2022–2023, multiple Chinese manufacturers have invested in synthesis capacity. Generic CAP technical pricing has declined substantially from the branded innovator price, and generic formulated products are now widely available in several Asian markets. However, quality variation among emerging generic technical sources remains a concern, and buyers should apply rigorous qualification testing.

What is an MSDS/SDS and why is it important for fungicide and insecticide technical materials?

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS, formerly MSDS) is a standardized document providing comprehensive health, safety, environmental, and handling information for a chemical substance. For technical-grade agrochemicals, the SDS covers hazard identification, composition, first-aid measures, firefighting measures, handling and storage requirements, exposure controls, physical/chemical properties, toxicological information, and disposal considerations. A current, accurate SDS is legally required for the supply and transport of hazardous chemicals in most jurisdictions and is essential for workplace safety management.

References

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2. Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC). FRAC Code List 2024: Fungicides Sorted by Mode of Action. CropLife International, 2024.
3. Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC). IRAC Mode of Action Classification Scheme, Version 10.3. CropLife International, 2023.
4. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Peer Review of the Pesticide Risk Assessment of the Active Substance Tebuconazole. EFSA Journal 2014; 12(1):3485.
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6. CIPAC (Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council). CIPAC Handbook Series. Various volumes. Available at: www.cipac.org.
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