Lok Sabha Question No. 97 (STARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Ban on Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL, BHAGWANTH KHUBA

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 97

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24 TH  JULY, 2018

## BAN ON PESTICIDES

- *97.     SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI: SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  many  killer  pesticides  like  monocrotophos which are banned in other countries are still on sale across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to provide alternatives to these pesticides to the farmers in case of their ban;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the corrective steps taken by the Government to prohibit/ban the production and sale of such pesticides?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

- कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH) (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.  97  DUE FOR REPLY ON 24 TH  JULY, 2018.

(a) & (b): There are 66 pesticides that are banned, restricted, withdrawn in one or more countries (including monocrotophos) but continued to be registered in India. The details are at Annexure I.

(c) to (e): 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. In additions, technical reviews are carried out from time to time to assess the safety of pesticides for their continued use. Pesticides used as per the approved label claims and leaflets are unlikely to cause any harm. The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW)  had constituted  an  expert  committee  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Anupam  Verma  in  July 2013,  to  review  these  66  pesticides.  The  recommendation  of  the  Committee  is  at Annexure II. 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 18 pesticides.  The  details  are  at  Annexure  III.  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.  The details of the numbers of alternatives of these 18 pesticides are at Annexure IV.

## Annexure - I

## LIST OF PESTICIDES WHICH HAVE BEEN BANNED/ RESTRICTED/ WITHDRAWN IN ONE OR MORE COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD BUT ARE STILL REGISTERED IN INDIA

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Pesticide                          | Sl. No.   | Name of the Pesticide   |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------|-----------|-------------------------|
|         1 | Acephate                                       | 41.       | Mancozeb                |
|         2 | Alachlor                                       | 42.       | Mepiquat Chloride       |
|         3 | Aluminum Phosphide                             | 43.       | Metaldehyde             |
|         4 | Atrazine                                       | 44.       | Monocrotophos           |
|         5 | Benfuracarb                                    | 45.       | Oxyflurofen             |
|         6 | Benomyl                                        | 46.       | Paraquat Dichloride     |
|         7 | Bifenthrin                                     | 47.       | Pendimethalin           |
|         8 | Butachlor                                      | 48.       | Phorate                 |
|         9 | Captan                                         | 49.       | Phosphomidon            |
|        10 | Carbaryl                                       | 50.       | Peitilachlor            |
|        11 | Carbendazim                                    | 51.       | Propargite              |
|        12 | Carbofuran                                     | 52.       | Propineb                |
|        13 | Chlorfenapyr                                   | 53.       | Quinalphos              |
|        14 | Carbosulfan                                    | 54.       | Sodium cyanide          |
|        15 | Chlorothalonil                                 | 55.       | Sulfosulfurone          |
|        16 | Chlorpyriphos                                  | 56.       | Thiodecarb              |
|        17 | DDT                                            | 57.       | Thiometon               |
|        18 | Dezomet                                        | 58.       | Thiphanate Methyl       |
|        19 | Deltamethrin                                   | 59.       | Thiram                  |
|        20 | Diazinon                                       | 60.       | Triazophos              |
|        21 | Dichlorovos                                    | 61.       | Trichlorofon            |
|        22 | Dicofol                                        | 62.       | Tridemorph              |
|        23 | Diflubenzuron                                  | 63.       | Trifluralin             |
|        24 | Dimethoate                                     | 64.       | Zinc Phosphide          |
|        25 | Dinocap                                        | 65.       | Zineb                   |
|        26 | Diuron                                         | 66.       | Ziram                   |
|        27 | Endusulfan ( Supreme Court has banned its use) |           |                         |
|        28 | Ethofenprox                                    |           |                         |
|        29 | Fenpropathrin                                  |           |                         |
|        30 | Fenarimol                                      |           |                         |
|        31 | Fenitrothion                                   |           |                         |
|        32 | Fenthion                                       |           |                         |
|        33 | Iprodione                                      |           |                         |
|        34 | 2,4-D                                          |           |                         |
|        35 | Kasugamycin                                    |           |                         |
|        36 | Linuron                                        |           |                         |
|        37 | Methomyl                                       |           |                         |
|        38 | Methoxy Ethyl Mercury Chloride                 |           |                         |
|        39 | Methyl Parathion                               |           |                         |
|        40 | Malathion                                      |           |                         |

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

|   S. No. | Category                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |   No. of Pesticides | 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 methyl, Thiram, Zineb, |
|        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 | 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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |

## 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      |

## Number of the Alternatives

| S.No.   | Name of Pesticide   | Crop                   | Pest                | Nos. of Alternatives   |
|---------|---------------------|------------------------|---------------------|------------------------|
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       | wheat                  | Loose smut          | 11                     |
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       | Groundnut              | Tikka leaf spot     | 18                     |
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       | Tabacco                | Frog eye spot       | 1                      |
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       | Grapes                 | Powdery mildew      | 27                     |
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       |                        | Anthracnose         | 12                     |
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       | Bean                   | Powdery mildew      | 3                      |
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       | Cucurbits              | Powdery mildew      | 1                      |
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       |                        | Anthracnose         | 1                      |
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       | Chillies               | Powdery mildew      | 2                      |
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       |                        | Fruit rot           | 5                      |
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       |                        | Leaf spot           | 1                      |
| 1       | Benomyl 50%WP       | Peas                   | Powdery mildew      | 2                      |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Paddy                  |                     | 79                     |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Cotton                 |                     | 102                    |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Sorghum                |                     | 14                     |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Bhindi                 |                     | 35                     |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Cabbage                |                     | 30                     |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Cauliflower            |                     | 8                      |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Tur                    |                     | 14                     |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Sesamum                |                     |                        |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Maize                  |                     | 7                      |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Jute                   |                     | 4                      |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Tomato                 |                     | 35                     |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Chilli                 |                     | 40                     |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Brinjal                |                     | 33                     |
| 2       | CARBARYL            | Wheat                  |                     | 11                     |
| 3       | Diazinon            | House                  |                     | 22                     |
| 3       | Diazinon            | Hold                   |                     |                        |
| 4       | Fenarimol           | Apple                  | Scab                | 16                     |
| 5       | Fenthion            | House Hold Insecticide | Mosquito larvae     | 17                     |
| 6       | Methyl Parathion    | Paddy                  | Leaf roller         | 44                     |
|         | Methyl Parathion    | Paddy                  | Gall midge,         | 14                     |
|         | Methyl Parathion    | Paddy                  | Green leaf hopper   | 25                     |
|         | Methyl Parathion    | Paddy                  | Hispa               | 11                     |
|         | Methyl Parathion    | Paddy                  | Stem borer          | 51                     |
|         | Methyl Parathion    | Paddy                  | Whorl maggot        | 5                      |
|         | Methyl Parathion    | Cotton                 | Aphid               | 31                     |
|         | Methyl Parathion    | Cotton                 | Leaf hopper         | 36                     |
|         | Methyl Parathion    | Cotton                 | Thrips              | 32                     |
|         | Methyl Parathion    | Black gram             | Pod bore            | 3                      |
|         | Methyl Parathion    | Mustard                | Sawfly              | 1                      |
|         | Methyl Parathion    |                        | Aphids              | 4                      |
| 7       | Sodium Cyanide      | Agriculture Land       | Rat & Soil insect   | 7                      |
| 8       | Thiometon           | Brinjal                | Fruit & shoot borer | 22                     |

## Annexure- IV

| 9   | Trifluralin   | Cotton & Soybean (Due to non-fixing of MRL, deleted for use in the Crops)   |                         | Cotton: 10 Soybean: 25   |
|-----|---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------|
| 10  | Alachlor      | Cotton                                                                      |                         | 10                       |
| 10  | Alachlor      | Maize                                                                       |                         | 11                       |
| 10  | Alachlor      | Groundnut                                                                   |                         | 6                        |
| 10  | Alachlor      | Soybean                                                                     |                         | 25                       |
| 10  | Alachlor      | Cotton                                                                      |                         | 10                       |
| 10  | Alachlor      | Maize                                                                       |                         | 11                       |
| 10  | Alachlor      | Groundnut                                                                   |                         | 6                        |
| 10  | Alachlor      | Soybean                                                                     |                         | 10                       |
| 11  | Dichlorvos    | Paddy                                                                       | BPH                     | 43                       |
| 11  | Dichlorvos    | Wheat                                                                       | Caterpillar             | 1                        |
| 11  | Dichlorvos    | Soybean                                                                     | Leaf eating caterpillar | 2                        |
| 11  | Dichlorvos    | Castor                                                                      | Hairy caterpillar       | 2                        |
| 11  | Dichlorvos    | Groundnut                                                                   | Red hairy caterpillar   | 3                        |
| 11  | Dichlorvos    | Mustard                                                                     | Painted bug             | 2                        |
| 11  | Dichlorvos    | Sunflower                                                                   | Caterpillar             | 1                        |
| 11  | Dichlorvos    | Cucurbit                                                                    | Red pumpkin beetle      | 3                        |
| 12  | Phorate       | Bajra                                                                       | Shoot fly               | 1                        |
|     |               | Barley                                                                      | Aphid                   | 1                        |
|     |               | Maize                                                                       | Shoot fly               | 9                        |
|     |               |                                                                             | Stem borer              | 6                        |
|     |               | Paddy                                                                       | Hispa                   | 12                       |
|     |               |                                                                             | Leaf hopper             | 23                       |
|     |               |                                                                             | Plant hopper Stem borer | 47 58                    |
|     |               | Sorghum                                                                     | Shoot fly               | 7                        |
|     |               |                                                                             | Aphids                  | 2                        |
|     |               | Wheat                                                                       | Shoot fly               | 1                        |
|     |               | Soybean                                                                     | Stem fly                | 5                        |
|     |               | Sugarcane                                                                   | Top borer               | 3                        |
|     |               |                                                                             | White grub              | 1                        |
|     |               | Cotton                                                                      | Aphid,                  | 35                       |
|     |               |                                                                             | Jassid                  | 39                       |
|     |               |                                                                             | Thrips,                 | 37                       |
|     |               |                                                                             | White fly               | 37                       |
|     |               | Groundnut                                                                   | Aphid                   | 1                        |
|     |               |                                                                             | Leaf minor              | 4                        |
|     |               |                                                                             | White grub              | 2                        |
|     |               | Mustard                                                                     | Mustard aphid,          | 6                        |
|     |               |                                                                             | Painted bug             | 2                        |
|     |               | Sesamum                                                                     | Jassids                 | 1                        |
|     |               | Brinjal                                                                     | Aphid                   | 5                        |
|     |               |                                                                             | Jassids                 | 6                        |
|     |               |                                                                             | Red spider mite         | 8                        |
|     |               | Cauliflower                                                                 | Aphid                   | 3                        |
|     |               | Chillies                                                                    | Aphid                   | 9                        |
|     |               |                                                                             | Mite                    | 15                       |
|     |               |                                                                             | Thrips                  | 22                       |
|     |               | Potato                                                                      | Aphid                   | 3                        |
|     |               | Tomato                                                                      | White fly               | 10                       |
|     |               | Apple                                                                       | Woolly aphid            | 4                        |
|     |               | Banana                                                                      | Aphid                   | 3                        |
|     |               | Citrus                                                                      | Leaf minor              | 2                        |

-4-

| 13   | Phosphamidon                          | Paddy                                                         | Stem borer                   | 51            |
|------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|---------------|
| 13   | Phosphamidon                          |                                                               | Leaf folder                  | 44            |
| 13   | Phosphamidon                          |                                                               | Green leaf hopper            | 25            |
| 13   | Phosphamidon                          |                                                               | Brown plant hopper,          | 14            |
| 13   | Phosphamidon                          |                                                               | White backed plant hopper    | 5             |
| 13   | Phosphamidon                          | Brinjal                                                       | Jassid                       | 1             |
| 13   | Phosphamidon                          |                                                               | Aphid                        | 1             |
| 13   | Phosphamidon                          |                                                               | White fly                    | 5             |
| 14   | Triazopos                             | Rice                                                          | Stem Borer                   | 20            |
|      | Triazopos                             |                                                               | Leaf Folder,                 | 26            |
|      | Triazopos                             |                                                               | Hispa                        | 8             |
|      | Triazopos                             |                                                               | Green leaf hopper            | 16            |
|      | Triazopos                             |                                                               | Brown plant hopper           | 21            |
|      | Triazopos                             |                                                               | White backed plant hopper    | 2             |
|      | Triazopos                             | Cotton                                                        | Bollworms (Pink and spotted) | 2             |
|      | Triazopos                             |                                                               | whitefly                     | 8             |
| 15   | Trichlofon                            | Castor                                                        | Pod borer                    |               |
|      | Trichlofon                            | Groundnut                                                     | Red hairy Caterpillar        | 1             |
|      | Trichlofon                            | Wheat                                                         | Army worm,                   | 1             |
|      | Trichlofon                            |                                                               | Cut worm                     | 1             |
|      | Trichlofon                            | Vegetables (Brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower, cucurbits, tomato) | Fruit and shoot borer        | 4             |
|      | Trichlofon                            |                                                               | Red pumpkin beetle           | 2             |
| 16   | Linuron                               | Pea                                                           |                              | No Alternate  |
| 17   | Methoxy Ethyl Mercury Chloride (MEMC) | Sugarcane                                                     | Whip smut                    | Not Available |
| 18   | Tridemorph                            | --                                                            | --                           | Not available |

*****