Lok Sabha Question No. 987 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Ban on use of Hazardous Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 987

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24 TH   JULY, 2018

## BAN ON USE OF HAZARDOUS PESTICIDES

987.   SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has received proposals to ban the use of hazardous pesticides in farming in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that World Health Organisation estimates that 20 per cent of all suicides could be prevented through restriction on access to such pesticides/poisonous; and
- (d) if so, the action taken by the Government thereon?

## 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) & (b): The  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  (DAC&FW) has constituted an expert committee under the Chairmanship of Anupam Verma in July 2013, to review  66  pesticides  that  are  banned,  restricted,  withdrawn  in  one  or  more  countries  but continued  to  be  registered  in  India.  The  Expert  Committee,  inter  alia,  recommended  13 pesticides to be completely banned, 27 pesticides to be reviewed in 2018 after completion of certain technical studies and 6 pesticides to be phased out by 2020.  The Complete list is at Annexure  I.  Considering  the  recommendation  of  Expert  Committee  as  accorded  by  the Registration  Committee,  the  Ministry  of Agriculture  &  Farmers Welfare had  invited  objections and suggestions from the public/stakeholders on banning/phasing out of certain pesticides. The details are at Annexure II. In response to which, the Ministry has received various objections and suggestions.  Keeping in  view  of  which,  a  committee  has  been  constituted  to  review  the received objections and suggestions.
- (c) & (d): There  is  no  specific  study  available  with  the  Central  Insecticide  Board  and Registration  Committee  (CIB&RC).  However,  the  Registration  Committee,  constituted  under Section  5  of  the  Insecticides  Act,  1968  registers  pesticides  after  considering  its  efficacy  and safety to human beings, animals and environment. Pesticides used as per approved label and leaflet  claims  are  unlikely  to  cause  any  harm.  In  additions,  technical  reviews  are  carried  out from  time  to  time  to  assess  the  safety  of  pesticides  for  their  continued  use.  Further,  the Department is implementing 'Strengthening and Modernization of Pest Management Approach' (SMPMA) Scheme, wherein, inter alia, Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) are organized to sensitize farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach and to use chemical pesticides as a last resort as per approved labels and leaflets.

## RECOMMENDATION OF THE EXPERT COMMITTEE WITH RESPECT TO 66 PESTICIDES

|   S. No. | Category                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |   No. of Pesticid es | Name of the Pesticides                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | I- to be continued                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                   18 | Aluminium phosphide, Bifenthrin, Carbosulfan, Chlorfenapyr, Chlorothalonil, Dazomet, Diflubenzuron, Ethofenprox, Fenpropathrin, Iprodione, Kasugamycin, Mepiquat chloride, Metaldehyde, Paraquat dichloride, Pretilachlor, Propargite, Propineb and Zinc phosphide                  |
|        2 | II- to be reviewed again in 2018, after completion of the recommended studies                                                                                                                                                                                    |                   27 | Acephate, Atrazine, Benfuracarb, Butachlor, Captan, Carbendazim, Carbofuran, Chlorpyriphos, Deltamethrin, Dicofol, Dimethoate, Dinocap, Diuron, 2,4-D, Malathion, Mancozeb, Methomyl, Monocrotophos, Oxyfluorfen, Pendimethalin, Quinalphos, Sulfosulfuron, Thiodicarb, Thiophanate |
|        3 | III- to be phased out by 2020  No new certificate of registration to manufacture shall be issued after December 2017  No person shall import, manufacture or formulate w.e.f. 1 st January 2019  The use shall be completely banned w.e.f.31 st December 2020 |                    6 | methyl, Thiram, Zineb, Ziram Alachlor, Dichlorvos, Phorate, Phosphamidon, Triazophos, Trichlorfon                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|        4 | IV- ban to be continued                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                    1 | Fenitrothion                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|        5 | V- it's use to be completely banned.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                   13 | Benomyl, Carbaryl, DDT Diazinon, Fenarimol, Fenthion, Linuron, MEMC, Methyl Parathion, Sodium Cyanide, Thiometon, Tridemorph, Trifluralin                                                                                                                                           |
|        6 | VI- not reviewed as it is sub- judice                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                    1 | Endosulfan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |

ANNEXURE II NAMES OF THE PESTICIDES IN THE NOTIFICATION S.O.4212 (E)

|   S.No. | Name             |
|---------|------------------|
|       1 | Benomyl          |
|       2 | Carbaryl         |
|       3 | Diazinon         |
|       4 | Fenarimol        |
|       5 | Fenthion         |
|       6 | Linuron          |
|       7 | MEMC             |
|       8 | Methyl Parathion |
|       9 | Sodium Cyanide   |
|      10 | Thiometon        |
|      11 | Tridemorph       |
|      12 | Trifluralin      |
|      13 | Alachlor         |
|      14 | Dichlorvos       |
|      15 | Phorate,         |
|      16 | Phosphamidon     |
|      17 | Triazophos       |
|      18 | Trichlorfon      |

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