Lok Sabha Question No. 5502 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-05
Subject: Verma Committee Report
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Satyadev Pachauri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5502

TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  APRIL 2022

## VERMA COMMITTEE REPORT

## 5502.    SHRI SATYADEV PACHAURI

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 an expert committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of  Anupam Verma to ban 66 pesticides in the country which have already been banned in foreign countries;

(b) if so, whether the committee has submitted its report to the Government;

(c)  whether  its  recommendations  have  been  accepted  or  not  along  with  the  number  of pesticides that have been banned;

(d) the steps taken by the Government to provide the information regarding scientific use of pesticides to farmers;

(e) the number of pesticides being manufactured in the country as on date for agriculture use and  whether  any  assessment  has  been  made  regarding  their  harmful  effects  on  the environment; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)  to  (c):  An  Expert  Committee  was  constituted  by  Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India under the chairmanship of Dr. Anupam Verma (former National Professor), IARI, New Delhi to review 66 pesticides which are banned/restricted in other countries but continued to be registered for use  in  India.  The  report  submitted  by  Expert  Committee  was  forwarded  to  the  Registration Committee  (RC)  for  consultation  under  section  27(2)  of  the  Insecticides  Act,  1968.  The Registration  committee  deliberated  the  report  of  the  Expert  Committee  in  its  361 st special meeting held on 22.12.2015 and accepted its recommendations with some observations. The

O.I.H.

Government of India after considering the recommendations of the Expert committee along with observations of the Registration committee had issued an order on 14.10.2016 whereby out  of  66  pesticides,  12  pesticides  were  banned,  6  pesticides  were  recommended  to  be phased  out  by  the  year  2020.  One  pesticide  (Endosulfan)  was  not  reviewed  being  under consideration of Supreme Court but was later banned by the Hon'ble Court. One Pesticides (Fenitrothion) was already banned for use in agriculture.

(d):      The  Directorate  of  Plant  Protection,  Quarantine  &  Storage,  an  attached  office  of  the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, regularly organizes training activities like Farmers Field Schools (FFS) through its 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centers (CIPMCs) in different  States/  Union  Territories  to  create  awareness  among  farmers  on  the  various Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. During the trainings, major emphasis is given on judicious use of chemical pesticide as a last resort,  alternate tools for pest management viz; cultural, physical, mechanical methods of pest control as well as use of bio-pesticides and bio-control  agents,  effects  of  pesticides  on  natural  enemies  of  pests,  do's  and  don'ts  of pesticide including proper application equipment and the technique. Under this programme, farmers  are  being  made  aware  about  the  judicious  use  of  chemical  pesticides  as  per  the prescriptions given in the label and leaflets approved by the Registration Committee.

(e) to (f) : A total of 302 pesticides and their 832 formulations are registered for use in the country.

On receipt of new studies / reports/ references/ information by the government from time to time, registered pesticides are periodically reviewed with regard to their safety and efficacy. The  review  is  done  by  constituting  expert  committees.  Based  on  the  recommendations  of such expert committees and after due consultation with Registration Committee, the Ministry of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  has  so  far  banned  or  phased  out  46  pesticides  and  4 pesticide formulations for import, manufacture or use in the country. In addition, 8 pesticide registrations  have been  withdrawn and 9 pesticides have been placed under restricted use ( Annexure-I ).

## LIST OF  PESTICIDES WHICH ARE BANNED AND RESTRICTED USE:

## I. PESTICIDES / FORMULATIONS BANNED IN INDIA

(As on 01.07.2021)

| Pesticides Banned for manufacture, import and use.   | Pesticides Banned for manufacture, import and use.                                                                                                                                   |
|------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                      | Alachlor(Vide S.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018)                                                                                                                                        |
|                                                      | Aldicarb (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July2001)                                                                                                                                    |
|                                                      | Aldrin                                                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                      | Benzene Hexachloride                                                                                                                                                                 |
|                                                      | Benomyl (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)                                                                                                                                   |
|                                                      | Calcium Cyanide                                                                                                                                                                      |
|                                                      | Carbaryl (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)                                                                                                                                  |
|                                                      | Chlorbenzilate (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)                                                                                                                             |
|                                                      | Chlordane                                                                                                                                                                            |
|                                                      | Chlorofenvinphos                                                                                                                                                                     |
|                                                      | Copper Acetoarsenite                                                                                                                                                                 |
|                                                      | Diazinon (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)                                                                                                                                  |
|                                                      | Dibromochloropropane (DBCP) (vide S.O. 569 (E) dated 25 th July1989)                                                                                                                 |
| A.                                                   | Dichlorovos(VideS.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018)                                                                                                                                      |
|                                                      | Dieldrin (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)                                                                                                                                   |
|                                                      | Endosulfan (vide ad-Interim order of the Supreme Court of India in the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 213 of 2011 dated 13 th May, 2011 and finally disposed of dated10 th January, 2017) |
|                                                      | Endrin                                                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                      | Ethyl Mercury Chloride                                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                      | Ethyl Parathion                                                                                                                                                                      |
|                                                      | Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)                                                                                                                   |
|                                                      | Fenarimol (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)                                                                                                                                 |
|                                                      | Fenthion (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)                                                                                                                                  |
|                                                      | Heptachlor                                                                                                                                                                           |
|                                                      | Lindane (Gamma-HCH)                                                                                                                                                                  |
|                                                      | Linuron (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)                                                                                                                                   |
|                                                      | Maleic Hydrazide (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)                                                                                                                           |
|                                                      | Menazon                                                                                                                                                                              |
|                                                      | Methoxy Ethyl Mercury Chloride (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)                                                                                                            |
|                                                      | Methyl Parathion (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)                                                                                                                          |

| 31.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Nitrofen                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 32.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Paraquat Dimethyl Sulphate                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| 33.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Pentachloro Nitrobenzene (PCNB) (vide S.O. 569 (E) dated 25 th July 1989)                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 34.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Pentachlorophenol                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 35.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Phenyl Mercury Acetate                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 36.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Phorate(Vide S.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018)                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 37.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Phosphamidon(Vide S.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018)                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 38.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Sodium Cyanide ( banned for Insecticidal purpose only vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)* (*Regulation to be continued in the extant manner for non-insecticidal uses)                                                                                        |
| 39.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Sodium Methane Arsonate                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 40.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Tetradifon                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| 41.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Thiometon (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 42.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Toxaphene(Camphechlor) (vide S.O. 569 (E) dated 25 th July 1989)                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 43.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Triazophos(Vide S.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018)                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| 44.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Tridemorph (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 45.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Trichloro acetic acid (TCA) (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 46.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Trichlorfon(Vide S.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018)                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Pesticide formulations banned for import, manufacture and use                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Pesticide formulations banned for import, manufacture and use                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Carbofuron 50% SP (vide S.O. 678 (E) dated 17 th July 2001)                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 2.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Methomyl 12.5% L                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 3.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Methomyl 24% formulation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 4.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Phosphamidon 85% SL                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 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 andaccepted by the Registration Committee. (S.O 915(E) dated 15 th Jun,2006) | 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 andaccepted by the Registration Committee. (S.O 915(E) dated 15 th Jun,2006) |
| 1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Dalapon                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 2.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Ferbam                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 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)                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |

## II. PESTICIDES RESTRICTED FOR USE IN THECOUNTRY

|   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 Phosphide 6 % tablet. [RC decision circular F No. 14-11(2)-CIR-II (Vol. II) dated 21-09-1984 and G.S.R. 371(E) dated 20th may 1999]. 1 Decision of 282 nd RC held on 02-11-2007 and, 2 Decision of 326 th RC held on15-02-2012. The production, marketing and use of Aluminium Phosphide tube packs with a capacity of 10 and 20 tabletsof 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 seeddresser. (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 ofHon,ble High Court of Delhi in WP(C) 10052 of 2009 dated 1407- 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 | Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloro et hane (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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

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|    |                | 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 StockholmConvention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). (S.O.295 (E) dated 8th 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 26thMay, 1989).   |
|----|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  6 | 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)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|  7 | 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. [G.S.R.371 (E) dated 20 th May, 1999 and earlier RC decision]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|  8 | Monocrotophos  | Monocrotophos is banned for use on vegetables.(S.O.1482 (E) dated 10 th Oct, 2005)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|  9 | Trifluralin    | (i) The Registration, import, manufacture, formulation, transport, sell and its all uses except use in wheat shall be prohibited and completely banned from 8 th August, 2018. (i) (ii) A cautionary statement has to be incorporated in the label and leaflet that it is toxic to aquatic organism, hence should not be used near water bodies, aquaculture or pisciculturearea. (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8 th August, 2018)                                                                                                                                                |

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