Lok Sabha Question No. 2899 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-15
Subject: Sale of Toxic Insecticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BHARAT SINGH, VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2899

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 15 TH   MARCH, 2016

## SALE OF TOXIC INSECTICIDES

2899.       SHRI BHARAT SINGH: SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that some foreign companies are setting extremely toxic insecticides without any safety warnings/instructions in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the maximum quantity of such insecticides are being used in Punjab, if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereto;
- (d) whehter  the  Government  has  conducted  any  survey  from  time  to  time  to  find  out  the disease caused due to use of such insecticides;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the effective steps being taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a) & (b): As per Insecticides Rules, 1971 framed under the Insecticides Act, 1968, sale or distribution  of  insecticides  in  the  country  is  prohibited  unless  it  is  packed  and  labelled  in accordance with the provisions of these rules.
- (c): As per the information provided by the State of Punjab in the recently concluded Zonal Conference, a total of 3538 samples (up to December 2015) were collected and analysed, out of which 150 (4.23%) were found to be misbranded. Samples which are found misbranded are prosecuted and penalized under the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968.
- (d) & (e):      The Government registers   pesticides after evaluating the safety of the product with  respect  to  human  health.  Pesticides  used  in  accordance  with  instructions  on  labels  and leaflets,  are  unlikely  to  cause  any  bodily  harm.  In  addition,  Technical  reviews  are  carried  out from time to time and continued use of pesticides is permitted only if found safe.

(f): Monitoring  of  quality  of  pesticides  is  a  shared  responsibility  between  the  Central  and State Governments. Central Government and State Governments have notified 168 and 11,229 Insecticides Inspectors respectively to check sale of misbranded pesticides. Insecticide samples are drawn on regular basis and analyzed in 68 State Pesticides Testing Laboratories (SPTLs) and  at  the  two  Regional  Pesticides  Testing  Laboratories  at  Chandigarh  and  Kanpur.  As  per reports provided by the State Governments, 44139 samples of pesticides were analyzed during the year 2015-16 (up to December 2015), out of which 1165 samples were found (2.64%) were found misbranded, where action is initiated under the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968.

In addition, Central Integrated Pest Management  Centres (CIPMCs) under the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare conducts Farmers Field Schools to sensitize farmers regarding safe and judicious use of pesticides, use of bio-pesticides etc. A 'Grow  Safe  Food'  campaign  has  also  been  initiated  to  carrying  the  message  of  safe  and judicious use of pesticides to farmers and other stakeholders.  Package of practices for control of  pests  and  diseases  in  67  crops  have  been  revised  to  include  techniques  to  reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and encourage use of bio-pesticides and other alternative plant protection measures.

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