Lok Sabha Question No. 963 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: Use of Banned Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 963

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  NOVEMBER, 2016

## USE OF BANNED PESTICIDES

## 963.   SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the pesticides which are banned at the international level;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any study to find out the impact of pesticides on human and animal health;
- (c) if so, the outcome thereof; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to educate the farmers about the harmful effects of these banned pesticides and promote use of bio-fertilizers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a): The use of pesticides in a country depends upon the prevalence of pests, weeds and diseases in that country and accordingly registration to pesticides is granted by the regulatory authority  of  that  country.  Similarly,  restriction/ban  on  pesticides  is  also  the  prerogative  of respective country. The ban or restriction on a pesticide depends upon the health hazards and availability of the alternatives. As such there is no list of pesticides banned at International level. However, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), which is global treaty to protect human health & environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants, recommends elimination of pesticides listed in Annexure 'A' of the convention. The list is at Annexure-I.

(b) & (c): Pesticides  are  inherently  toxic  in  nature.  They  are  designed  to  kill  or  combat pests,  diseases  and  weeds  and  can  pose  health  hazards  if  used  injudiciously.  As  such  the registration of pesticides is governed under the Insecticides Act, 1968. The Act is preventive in nature. The Registration Committee, constituted u/s 5 of the Act, grant registration of pesticides after  evaluating  toxicity  data  submitted  by  the  applicant  from  the  GLP  (Good  Laboratory Practices) accredited laboratories generated on animal and microbial test systems. This data is scientifically  extrapolated  to  assess  safety  to  human  beings  and  environment.  Further,  the Government keeps on reviewing the registered pesticides, through specially constituted Expert Committees or the Registration Committee, for their continued use or otherwise in the country. Based on such reviews, some pesticides are banned and some others have been restricted for use in the country. The list is at Annexure-II(A&B).

(d): Farmers are being educated and being sensitized about ill effects of chemical pesticides on the crops, human being & in the environment through organization of Farmers Field Schools and Two days orientation training programme.

## Annexure-I

## Pesticides listed in Annex 'A' for elimination under Stockholm Convention

|   S.No. | Name of the Chemical                         |
|---------|----------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Aldrin                                       |
|       2 | Chlordane                                    |
|       3 | Dieldrin                                     |
|       4 | Endrin                                       |
|       5 | Heptachlor,                                  |
|       6 | Hexachlorobenzene                            |
|       7 | Mirex                                        |
|       8 | Toxaphene                                    |
|       9 | Alpha Hexachlorocyclohexane                  |
|      10 | Beta Hexachlorocyclohexane                   |
|      11 | Chlordecone                                  |
|      12 | Lindane                                      |
|      13 | Penta Chlorobenzene                          |
|      14 | Pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters   |
|      15 | Technical Endosulfan and its related isomers |

## LIST  OF  PESTICIDES  WHICH  ARE  BANNED,  REFUSED  REGISTRATION  AND  RESTRICTED  IN USE:

## A.

## PESTICIDES / FORMULATIONS BANNED IN INDIA

A.

## Pesticides Banned for manufacture, import and use .

1. Aldicarb    (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)

2. Aldrin

3. Benzene Hexachloride

4. Calcium Cyanide

5. Chlorbenzilate (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)

6. Chlordane

7. Chlorofenvinphos

8. Copper Acetoarsenite

9. Dibromochloropropane (DBCP) (vide S.O. 569 (E) dated 25 th July 1989)

10. Dieldrin  (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)

11. Endrin

12. Ethyl Mercury Chloride

13. Ethyl Parathion

14. Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)

15. Heptachlor

16. Lindane (Gamma-HCH)

17. Maleic Hydrazide  (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)

18. Menazon

19. Metoxuron

20. Nitrofen

21. Paraquat Dimethyl Sulphate

22. Pentachloro Nitrobenzene (PCNB) (vide S.O. 569 (E) dated 25 th July 1989)

23. Pentachlorophenol

24. Phenyl Mercury Acetate

25. Sodium Methane Arsonate

26. Tetradifon

27. Toxaphene(Camphechlor) (vide S.O. 569 (E) dated 25 th July 1989)

28. Trichloro acetic acid (TCA) (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)

29. Endosulfan: Endosulfan has been banned by the Supreme Court of India w.e.f. 13/05/2011 for production, use and sale, all over India, till further orders vide ad-Interim order in the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 213 of 2011.

- B. 2. Methomyl 12.5% L

## Pesticide formulations banned for import, manufacture and use

1. Carbofuron 50% SP (vide S.O. 678 (E) dated 17th July 2001)

3. Methomyl 24% formulation

4. Phosphamidon 85% SL

- C. Pesticide / Pesticide formulations banned for use but continued to manufacture for export

1. Captafol 80% Powder (vide S.O. 679 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)

2. Nicotin Sulfate

- D. 2. Ferbam

## Pesticides Withdrawn

(Withdrawal may become inoperative as soon as required complete data as per the guidelines is generated and

submitted by the Pesticides Industry to the Government and  accepted  by the Registration Committee.

## (S.O 915(E) dated 15 th Jun,2006)

1. Dalapon

3. Formothion

4. Nickel Chloride

5. Paradichlorobenzene (PDCB)

6. Simazine

7. Sirmate (S.O. 2485 (E) dated 24 th September 2014)

8. Warfarin (vide S.O. 915 (E) dated 15 th June 2006)

## B. PESTICIDES RESTRICTED FOR USE IN THE COUNTRY

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|   S.No. | Name of Pesticides                      | Details of Restrictions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|---------|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Aluminium Phosphide                     | The Pest Control Operations with Aluminium Phosphide may be undertaken only by Govt./Govt. undertakings / Govt. Organizations / pest control operators under the strict supervision of Govt. Experts or experts whose expertise is approved by the Plant Protection Advisor to Govt. of India except 1 Aluminium Phosphide 15 % 12 g tablet and 2 Aluminum Phosphide6% tablet. [RC decision circular F No. 14-11(2)-CIR-II (Vol. II) dated 21-09-1984 and G.S.R. 371(E) dated 20 th May 1999]. 1 Decision of 282 nd RC held on 02-11-2007 and, 2 Decision of 326 th RC held on 15-02-2012. The production, marketing and use of Aluminium Phosphide tube packs with a capacity of 10 and 20 tablets of 3 g each of Aluminium Phosphide are banned completely. (S.O.677 (E) dated 17 th July, 2001)                                                                                         |
|       2 | Captafol                                | The use of Captafol as foliar spray is banned. Captafol shall be used only as seed dresser. (S.O.569 (E) dated 25 th July, 1989) The manufacture of Captafol 80 % powder for dry seed treatment (DS) is banned for use in the country except manufacture for export. (S.O.679 (E) dated 17 th July, 2001)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|       3 | Cypermethrin                            | Cypermethrin 3 % Smoke Generator, is to be used only through Pest Control Operators and not allowed to be used by the General Public. [Order of Hon,ble High Court of Delhi in WP(C) 10052 of 2009 dated 14-07-2009 and LPA-429/2009 dated 08-09-2009].                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|       4 | Dazomet                                 | The use of Dazomet is not permitted on Tea. (S.O.3006 (E) dated 31 st Dec, 2008)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|       5 | Diazinon                                | Diazinon is banned for use in agriculture except for household use. (S.O.45 (E) dated 08 th Jan, 2008)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|       6 | Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT) | The use of DDT for the domestic Public Health Programme is restricted up to 10,000 Metric Tonnes per annum, except in case of any major outbreak of epidemic. M/s Hindustan Insecticides Ltd., the sole manufacturer of DDT in the country may manufacture DDT for export to other countries for use in vector control for public health purpose. The export of DDT to Parties and State non-Parties shall be strictly in accordance with the paragraph 2(b) article 3 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). (S.O.295 (E) dated 8 th March, 2006) Use of DDT in Agriculture is withdrawn. In very special circumstances warranting the use of DDT for plant protection work, the state or central Govt. may purchase it directly from M/s Hindustan Insecticides Ltd. to be used under expert Governmental supervision. (S.O.378 (E) dated 26 th May, 1989) |
|       7 | Fenitrothion                            | The use of Fenitrothion is banned in Agriculture except for locust control in scheduled desert area and public health. (S.O.706 (E) dated 03 rd May, 2007)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|       8 | Fenthion                                | The use of Fenthion is banned in Agriculture except for locust control, household and public health. (S.O.46 (E) dated 08 th Jan, 2008)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|       9 | Methoxy Ethyl Mercuric Chloride (MEMC)  | The use of MEMC is banned completely except for seed treatment of potato and sugarcane. (S.O.681 (E) dated 17 th July, 2001)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|      10 | Methyl Bromide                          | Methyl Bromide may be used only by Govt./Govt. undertakings/Govt. Organizations / Pest control operators under the strict supervision of Govt. Experts or Experts whose expertise is approved by the Plant Protection Advisor to Govt. of India. [G.S.R.371 (E) dated 20 th May, 1999 and earlier RC decision]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|      11 | Methyl Parathion                        | Methyl Parathion 50 % EC and 2% DP formulations are banned for use on fruits and vegetables. (S.O.680 (E) dated 17 th July, 2001) The use of Methyl Parathion is permitted only on those crops approved by the Registration Committee where honeybees are not acting as a pollinators. (S.O.658 (E) dated 04 th Sep., 1992.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|      12 | Monocrotophos                           | Monocrotophos is banned for use on vegetables. (S.O.1482 (E) dated 10 th Oct, 2005)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|      13 | Sodium Cyanide                          | The use of Sodium Cyanide shall be restricted for Fumigation of Cotton bales under expert supervision approved by the Plant Protection Advisor to Govt. of India. (S.O.569(E) dated 25 th July, 1989)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |