Lok Sabha Question No. 2248 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Ban on Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kanakmal Katara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2248

ANSWERED ON 14 th  MARCH, 2023

## BAN ON PESTICIDES

## 2248.  SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA

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

- (a)  whether the Government is aware of the fact that pesticides are still being used in   the country despite global ban on it;
- (b)   if so, the details of such pesticides;
- (c)  whether the Government has conducted any study to establish the adverse effects of banned pesticides on human health as well as on animals;
- (d)   if so, the outcomes thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to sensitize the farmers about the disadvantages of using these banned pesticides.

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR )

(a) to  (d):  The  Registration  Committee  (RC)  constituted  under  section  (5)  of  the Insecticides  Act,  1968  registers  the  pesticides  for  use  in  the  country  after  evaluation  of their  safety  and  efficacy.  RC,  while  registering  the  pesticides,  provides  the  details  of doses, crops, precautionary measures, antidotes etc on Label and Leaflets. The registered pesticides,  if  used  as  per  Label  and  Leaflets,  do  not  pose  any  harm  to  human  beings, animals, living organisms, other than pest. Further, all pesticides are not banned by other countries of the world. There are some pesticides, which are banned/severely restricted in some  countries  of  the  world  but  are  being  used  in  other  countries,  as  the  decision  to permit the use of particular pesticide in any country is based on the crops grown in that country,  pest  spectrum,  climatic  conditions,  geography  and  other  social  and  economic factors.

The Government of India, from time to time keeps reviewing the continued use or otherwise  of  those  pesticides  which  are  banned/severely  restricted  in  other  countries  of the world due to their toxic concerns or have been reported to pose harm to human health or  environment  in  our  country  or  other  countries  of  the  world.  These  reviews  are undertaken  by  constituting  special  committees  or  through  the  RC.  Based  on  the recommendations  of  such  expert  committees  and  after  due  consultation  with  RC,  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.

(e):    Central and State Governments through their field agencies ensure that farmers are provided right knowledge/information about the pesticides approved by the RC and their uses as per recommended doses given in label & leaflet. Further,  with the objective of educating,    orienting  and  training  of    farming  community  about  the  judicious  use  of pesticides  and  use  as  per  the  prescriptions  given  in  the  label  and  leaflets,  Ministry  of Agriculture and  Farmers  Welfare  is  propagating  the  Integrated  Pest  Management approach through its 36 Central Integrated Pest Management Centers located in 28 States and  2  UTs    by  imparting  training  to  farmers  through  Farmer  Field  Schools  and  HRD programs to encourage farmers for judicious use of pesticides.

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