Lok Sabha Question No. 811 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Regulatory Framework for Chemicals and Fertilizers Sector
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.811

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/02/2025

## REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS SECTOR

## 811 SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT

Will the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers be pleased to state :-

- a. the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government towards strengthening the regulatory framework for the chemicals and fertilizers sector in the country;
- b. whether there has been an increase in export of chemicals and fertilizers during the last five years; and
- c. if so, the details thereof, year-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare has notified Insecticides Act, 1968 for  the  regulation  of  import,  manufacture,  sale,  transport,  distribution  and  use  of insecticides  with  a  view  to  prevent  risk  to  human  beings  or  animals  and  for  matters connected therewith.

The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  notified  that Manufacture,  Storage  and  Import  of  Hazardous  Chemicals  Rules,  1989  (MSIHC)  and subsequent amendments thereof, wherein, hazard criteria, viz. toxicity, flammability and explosiveness  has  been  defined  to  identify  hazardous  chemicals  used  in  industrial processes.  The  Chemical  Accident  Emergency  Planning,  preparedness  and  Response Rules,  1996  (CAEPPR  Rules,  1996)  have  also  been  notified  to  complement  MSIHC Rules, 1989 and provide statutory backup to  crisis  management set up in the country with  four-tier  system  at  Central,  State,  District  and  Local  Level.  Further,  Ministry  of Environment  Forest  and  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC)  has  vide  Notification  G.S.R 1030(E)  dated  1.11.2016  published  "Regulation  of  Lead  Contents  in  Household  and Decorative  Paints  Rules,  2016".  India  is  also  a  signatory  to  Stockholm  Convention. Consequently,  MoEF&CC vide Notification G.S.R. 207(E) dated 5.03.2018 has prohibited

manufacturing,  trade,  use  import  and  export  of  the  following  seven  Persistent Organic Chemicals (POPs) listed in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention :

- Chlordecone;
- Hexabromobiphenyl;
- Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether (commercialocta- BDE);
- Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether (commercialpenta- BDE);
- Pentachlorobenzene;
- Hexabromocyclododecane;

Hexachlorobutadine.

The  Department  of  Chemicals  and  Petrochemicals  is  enforcing  mandatory  BIS Standards  for  selected  chemicals  and  petrochemicals.  This  measure ensures  that  both imported  and  domestically  produced  chemicals  meet  stringent quality parameters, preventing  the  use  of  hazardous  and  substandard  products.  By  making  these  standards compulsory under Section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, the initiative aims  to  protect  human,  animal  and  plant  health,  ensure  environmental  safety,  prevent unfair  trade  practices,  and  enhance  national  security.  D/o  Chemicals  & Petrochemicals has notified 75 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for Chemicals & Petrochemicals so far.

In respect of fertilizer sector, to ensure the availability of good quality of fertilizer to farmers, the Government  of  India  has  declared  the  fertilizers  as an essential commodity  and  promulgated  the  Fertilizer  Control  Order  (FCO),  1985.  The  FCO regulates  the  supply, distribution  and  quality  of fertilizers.  Under  the  Order,  the specification  of  various  fertilizers  has  been  specified  in  respective  schedules.  FCO strictly  prohibits  the  sale  of  fertilizers  which  are  not  in  conformity  with  the  prescribed standard.  Any  violation  of  the  provisions  of  FCO  attracts  both  penal  action  under Essential Commodity Act as also administrative action under FCO.

(b)  &  (c) Yes, the exports of chemicals and fertilizers during the course of last five years has  increased.  The  figure  of exports for chemicals  and  fertilizers  including  organic and inorganic chemicals (Customs Tariff Head 15,26,28,29,32- 38) as well as Fertilizers (CTH code  31)  for  financial  year  2019-20  was  US$ 22172  Millions.  This  figure  has  since increased to US$ 29442 Million in the financial year 2023-24, representing a growth of 32.7%.

******