Lok Sabha Question No. 4229 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-29
Subject: Anti-Microbial Resistance in Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sarmistha Sethi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4229 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  MARCH 2022

## ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN CROPS

## 4229.    SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI

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

- a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  indiscriminate  use  of  antibiotics  in  food  crops  in  several  parts  of  the country is leading to the development and spread of Anti Microbial Resistance (AMR) among crops;
2. (b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is taking any steps to check the rampant use of antibiotics in food crops and promote alternative healthy practices by farmers; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefore?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## कृ िष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (d): No report has been received from any part of the country regarding indiscriminate use of antibiotics in food crops leading to the development and spread of Anti Microbial Resistance (AMR) among crops. However, the matter of use of antibiotics was considered by Registration Committee suo moto  and  a  Sub-Committee  was  constituted  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Dr.  S.C.  Dubey,  Assistant Director General (Plant Protection & Biological Science), ICAR to examine the matter on production, sale and use of Streptomycin + Tetracycline. The Sub-Committee has submitted its report before the Registration Committee. The Registration Committee considered the report in its 430 th meeting held on 23.07.2021 and approved the recommendation of Sub-Committee to phase out the use of Streptomycin + tetracycline as per the availability of alternatives. Large-scale validations at field level have also been suggested for available alternatives. In view of this, DARE/ICAR has sent a communication to the crop specific ICAR-Institutes to conduct appropriate research to find out safer and better alternatives.

The  Government  of  India  has  published  the  Gazette  notification;  S.O.  5295  (E)  dated 17.12.2021 (Annexure-I) for prohibition of Streptomycin + Tetracycline in agriculture. Comments/suggestions on the draft notification have been received and the same have been considered by  the  Registration  Committee  in  its  437 th meeting  held  on  16.03.2022  wherein  it  decided  to  seek further suggestion/ comments from ICMR.

## [TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, EXTRAORDINARY, PART-II, SECTION-3, SUB-SECTION (ii)]

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare)

## NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 17 th December, 2021.

S.O.  5295  (E)-   Whereas,  the  Registration  Committee  constituted  under  section  5  of  the Insecticides Act, 1968 (46 of 1968) (hereinafter referred to as 'the said Act') had constituted a SubCommittee to explore the possibility of  phasing out of antibiotic or antibacterial substances for use in agriculture if alternatives are available, as continued use of these substances in agriculture may pose risk of development of resistance to these antibiotics in human beings and animals;

And whereas, the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section 2 of Section 27 of the said Act, after considering the recommendations of the said Sub-Committee and after consultation  with  the  Registration  Committee  set  up  under  the  said  Act , proposes  to  make the following draft Order, which is hereby published for information of all persons likely to be affected thereby  and  notice  is  accordingly  hereby  given  that  the  said  draft  Order  shall  be  taken  into consideration after the expiry of a period of forty five days from the date on which the copies of the Gazette of India containing this Order are make available to the public;

And whereas, any person desirous of making any objection or suggestion in respect of the said draft  Order  may  submit  the  same for consideration  of  the  Central  Government,  within  the  period so specified,  to  the  Joint  Secretary  (Plant  Protection),  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 27 of the said, the Central Government hereby propose to  makes the following Order, namely:-

## DRAFT ORDER

1. Short title and commencement.- (i) This Order may be called the Prohibition of Streptomycin  + Tetracycline in agriculture Order, 2021.
2. (ii)    It shall come into force on the date of its final publication in the Official Gazette.
2. No  person  shall  import,  manufacture  or  formulate  Streptomycin  +  Tetracycline  for  use  in agriculture in India with effect from the 1 st February, 2022.
3.    No  new  certificate  of  registration  to  manufacture,  import  or  formulate  of  Streptomycin  + Tetracycline for use in Agriculture shall be issued with effect from the 1 st February, 2022.
4.  The use of Streptomycin + Tetracycline shall be completely banned in agriculture with effect from 01.01.2024.
5.  Every State Government shall take all such steps under the provisions of the said Act and rules framed there under, as it considers necessary, for the execution of this order in the state.

[F. No. 13035/12/2020-PP-I]

(Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda) Joint Secretary (Plant Protection)