Farmers and industry suffer as pesticides regulations stay lax

Recent developments in regard to the banning of 27 pesticides including 12 insecticides have brought to the fore the Union government’s cavalier approach to dealing with safety issues connected with their use. Based on a review a total of 66 pesticides, which are banned in two or more other countries, continue to be registered for use in India, in May 2020 it banned 27 pesticides. Vide an order dated February 15, 2023, it has now removed the ban on 24 of these. As for the remaining three, pesticide companies are not making them.      

Another disquieting development is the inordinate delay in enacting the Pesticides Management Bill to replace the Insecticides Act of 1968. The Bill is meant to ensure more ‘effective’ regulation of the sector and pave the way for the introduction of new, safer and environment-friendly pesticides. Pesticides are hazardous substances with the potential to damage human health and the environment. If these are not found to be safe, their use must not be allowed even for a day.

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