Referring to the “poor quality” of pesticides in the market, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan hinted at stricter laws. The proposed Pesticide Management Bill (PMB) 2020 calls for replacing the Insecticides Act of 1968 to address substandard crop protection chemicals and enforce harsher penalties, including criminalization, to safeguard farmers.
However, quality control does not necessarily require punitive measures—it demands investment in infrastructure, skilled labour, and a commitment to high standards from manufacturers. It also requires a robust, transparent regulatory system for product registration, market sampling, and reliable lab analyses.
Pharma model
The pharmaceutical industry offers a useful blueprint. In 2003, the introduction of QR codes and strict implementation helped curb the sale of counterfeit drugs.
The Ministry of Health is also partnering with Quality Council of India (QCI) to upgrade the Central Government Health Services (CGHS) over the next five years. In a major reform, CGHS has revised Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) norms, with compliance required by December 2024.
A similar overhaul is needed in the agrochemical industry. First, registration should only be granted to companies with the necessary manufacturing infrastructure and credentials. The evaluation guidelines should be uniform and transparent. Furthermore, updating the Central Insecticides Laboratory with NABL and GLP accreditation, along with improving state-level pesticide testing labs, should be prioritized. A fully digitized registration system would also improve reliability and uniformity.
The Department of Biotechnology and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have promulgated a detailed Guidance Document to spell out the role, responsibilities, functioning and detailed guidelines for approvals to ensure transparency, consistency and accountability. A similar Guidance Document for the Central Insecticide Board & Registration Committee (CIB & RC) would go a long way to strengthen the registration processes.
The CIB&RC has already made progress by enforcing the path-breaking Know Your Company (KYC) requirements, resulting in the de-registration of over 7,000 non-compliant firms. This action, which aims to weed out fake manufacturers according to government sources, will leave around 2,500 legitimate companies in the industry. Additionally, the digital registry of genuine companies as part of the Integrated Pesticide Management System (IPMS) under development by the Ministry will help streamline registration and offer transparency on manufacturing infrastructure, production, and exports.
In line with the pharma sector, an independent body like QCI could audit manufacturing units to ensure compliance with quality standards.
Another critical reform is to encourage innovation and the introduction of newer molecules.
Farmer impact
The farmer remains the most affected by substandard products, often forced to choose from a limited and low-quality range.
Currently, ‘Make in India’ with lax guidelines for registration has led to over 2,000 registrations for technical pesticides, but fewer than 20 per cent of these companies are operational. This highlights the need for confidentiality in the registration process to protect the interests of genuine manufacturers and avoid copycat registrations.
It’s heartening to see the Ministry of Agriculture and CIB&RC take proactive steps toward reforming the regulatory framework. By tackling substandard products, we can boost farm productivity, ensure better product stewardship, and increase the availability of innovative and safer options for crop protection.
Singhal is Chairman Emeritus, PI Industries; Ravi is Chief Sustainability Officer, Syngenta India. Views expressed are personal