Context: The Union Government has invited public feedback on the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW). The Bill seeks to repeal and replace the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971, which are considered inadequate to address contemporary challenges such as spurious pesticides, environmental risks, and global trade requirements.
Rationale and Objectives
The primary objective of the Draft Bill is to modernise pesticide regulation and ensure effective management across the entire lifecycle—from manufacture and import to distribution, use, and disposal. Recognising pesticides as a matter of national importance, Section 2 explicitly brings the regulation of the pesticide industry under the Union Government, citing public interest.
This centralisation aims to ensure uniform standards, prevent regulatory arbitrage among States, and strengthen accountability.
Institutional Architecture
The Bill introduces a two-tier regulatory structure:
- Central Pesticides Board (CPB)
- An advisory body.
- Includes representatives from Agriculture, Health, and Environment ministries.
- Responsible for recommending safety norms, disposal mechanisms, and policy guidance.
- Registration Committee (RC)
- The executive authority.
- Evaluates applications for pesticide registration based on safety, efficacy, and necessity.
This separation of advisory and executive roles is intended to enhance regulatory clarity and scientific rigour.
Key Provisions of the Draft Bill
- Curbing Spurious and Counterfeit Pesticides:
Stricter penalties and tighter controls are introduced to address the widespread issue of substandard and fake products, which harm crops, farmers, and consumers. - Decriminalisation of Minor Offences:
Procedural and technical lapses are made compoundable, reflecting the government’s ease-of-doing-business and ease-of-living approach. - Time-bound Registration:
Decisions on pesticide registration must be taken within 12–18 months. For generic pesticides, approval is deemed after 18 months if no decision is communicated, ensuring regulatory certainty. - Digital Traceability:
Mandatory digital licensing and technology-enabled supply-chain tracking are proposed to enhance transparency and product authentication. - Laboratory Accreditation:
All pesticide testing laboratories must be accredited, improving data credibility and enabling global benchmarking. - Enhanced Safety Standards:
Provisions cover worker training, occupational health, and the protection of beneficial organisms, particularly pollinators. - Promotion of Sustainable Alternatives:
The Bill provides legal backing to promote biopesticides, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and traditional knowledge-based solutions, aligning with sustainable agriculture goals.
Significance
The Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 represents a shift from a narrow “insecticide control” approach to a holistic pesticide governance framework, balancing farmer needs, public health, environmental protection, and innovation.