Lok Sabha Question No. 2249 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Regulation in use of Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2249

ANSWERED ON 14 TH  MARCH, 2023

## REGULATION IN USE OF PESTICIDES

2249.  SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:(a) Whether the Government proposes to regulate the use of pesticides in vegetables and fruits, and if so, the details thereof; (b) Whether the Government has banned any pesticides during the last seven years and if so, the details thereof; (c)  Whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  enquiry  regarding  the  use  of  banned pesticides in country and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon; (d) Whether the Government has conducted study regarding the health hazards due to the excess use of pesticides and if so, the details thereof; (e)  Whether the Government proposes to regulate and control the use of the pesticides considering the health hazards; and if so, the details thereof; and (f)  Whether  the  Government  proposes  to  initiate  action  to  prevent  water,  air  and  soil

- pollution due to the excessive use of fertilizers and, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR ) (a) & (b): The  manufacture,  import,  storage,  sale,  distribution,  use,  etc  of  pesticides are  regulated  by  the  Insecticides  Act,  1968  and  the  Insecticides  Rules,  1971  made thereunder.  The  Registration  Committee  (RC)  constituted  under  section  (5)  of  the Insecticides Act, 1968 registers the pesticides for their use in agriculture (including fruits and  vegetables)  and  for  non-agriculture  purposes  also  after  evaluating  their  safety  and efficacy. Further, the Government of India, from time to time keeps reviewing the continued use  or  otherwise  of  those  pesticides  which  are  banned  or  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 Expert committee, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in last seven years, has prohibited 17 pesticides for import, manufacture or  sale  in  the  country.  The  detail  of  pesticides  prohibited  during  the  last  seven  years  is attached at Annexure-I .

(c) to (e): Pesticides are toxic substances which are registered for use in the country by the Registration Committee only after satisfying itself about their efficacy and safety to human health, animal and environment. The Pesticide do not pose any adverse effect on human beings, animals and the environment if they are used as per the label and leaflet approved  by  the  Registration  Committee.  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.

(f): Soil  Health  &  Fertility  programme  in  RKVY  scheme  is  being  implemented  to promote soil test based Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through conjunctive use of chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers and bio-fertilizers. Promotion of INM is expected to reduce consumption of chemical fertilizers and increase use of organic sources of plant nutrients, which in turn improve the soil fertility as well nutrient use efficiency.

## LIST OF PESTICIDES WHICH ARE PROHIBITED IN LAST SEVEN YEARS (2015 to 2022)

|   S.No | Name of Pesticide                     |   Year of Banning |
|--------|---------------------------------------|-------------------|
|      1 | Alachlor                              |              2018 |
|      2 | Benomyl                               |              2018 |
|      3 | Carbaryl                              |              2018 |
|      4 | Diazinon                              |              2018 |
|      5 | Dichlorovos                           |              2018 |
|      6 | Fenarimol                             |              2018 |
|      7 | Fenthion                              |              2018 |
|      8 | Linuron                               |              2018 |
|      9 | Methoxy Ethyl Mercury Chloride (MEMC) |              2018 |
|     10 | Methyl Parathion                      |              2018 |
|     11 | Phorate                               |              2018 |
|     12 | Phosphamidon                          |              2018 |
|     13 | Sodium Cyanide                        |              2018 |
|     14 | Thiometon                             |              2018 |
|     15 | Triazophos                            |              2018 |
|     16 | Tridemorph                            |              2018 |
|     17 | Trichlorfon                           |              2018 |

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