Banning of Pesticides: An Expert Committee was constituted by Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India under the chairmanship of Dr. Anupam Verma (former National Professor), IARI, New Delhi to review 66 pesticides which are banned/restricted in other countries but continued to be registered for use in India.
The report submitted by Expert Committee was forwarded to the Registration Committee (RC) for consultation under section 27(2) of the Insecticides Act, 1968. The Registration committee deliberated the report of the Expert Committee in its 361st special meeting held on 22.12.2015 and accepted its recommendations with some observations.
The Government of India, after considering the recommendations of the Expert committee along with observations of the Registration committee, had issued an order on 14.10.2016 whereby out of 66 pesticides, 12 pesticides were banned, 6 pesticides were recommended to be phased out by the year 2020. One pesticide (Endosulfan) was not reviewed being under consideration of Supreme Court but was later banned by the Hon’ble Court. One Pesticide (Fenitrothion) was already banned for use in agriculture.
On receipt of new studies / reports/ references/ information by the government from time to time, registered pesticides are reviewed with regard to their safety and efficacy. The review is done by constituting expert committees. Based on the recommendations of such expert committees and after due consultation with Registration Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has so far banned or phased out 46 pesticides and 4 pesticide formulations for import, manufacture or use in the country. In addition, 8 pesticide registrations have been withdrawn and 9 pesticides have been placed under restricted use (see Annexure).
The government is promoting use of biopesticides, which are generally safer than chemical pesticides. For this, the approved pesticides on various crops are displayed in public domain on the official website of the Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine & Storage.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
