Industry Raises Concerns Over Proposed Pesticides Bill

Industry Raises Concerns Over Proposed Pesticides Bill

Why in the News ?

An industry body, CropLife India, has flagged gaps in the draft Pesticides Management Bill, urging reforms to ensure faster access to modern crop protection technologies through streamlined environmental clearances, as the government plans to introduce an amended Bill in Parliament.

Industry Concerns and Key Recommendations :

  • CropLife India has urged the government to introduce targeted amendments to the draft Pesticides Management Bill, emphasizing the need for clear environmental clearance procedures.
  • It highlighted delays in introducing new crop protection technologies, affecting agricultural productivity and preventing adoption of environmentally safer alternatives.
  • The body recommended a time-bound Protection of Regulatory Data (PRD) framework to encourage innovation while adhering to the precautionary principle in environmental jurisprudence.
  • It proposed a five-year PRD period from first registration to ensure predictability and incentives for companies, avoiding ex post facto regulatory complications.
  • The absence of a clear data protection framework and streamlined environmental impact assessment processes creates an innovation gap and discourages investment in new molecules.

Impact on Agriculture and Farmers

  • Farmers remain dependent on older chemical formulations, leading to pest resistance and increased spray intensity, undermining efforts toward a pollution free environment.
  • Delayed access to advanced pesticides affects crop yield, quality, and export competitiveness, particularly in coastal regulation zone areas where agricultural practices face additional environmental scrutiny.
  • New-generation pesticides are low-dose, targeted, and environmentally safer, but adoption remains slow due to complex environmental clearances and regulatory hurdles.
  • Rising residue standards in global markets demand modern crop protection solutions that align with environmental democracy principles.
  • Faster introduction of new technologies can improve sustainability and pest management efficiency while ensuring compliance with the polluter pays principle.

About Pesticide Regulation and Agricultural Policy:

●  Pesticides Management Bill: Proposed legislation to regulate manufacture, sale, and use of pesticides in India, replacing the Insecticides Act, 1968, with provisions for environmental impact assessment and avoiding retrospective environmental clearances or ex-post facto approvals.

●  Protection of Regulatory Data (PRD): Safeguards proprietary data submitted for approval of new agrochemicals, promoting research and innovation within the framework of environmental jurisprudence.

●  Green Revolution Legacy: Heavy reliance on chemical inputs has increased productivity but also ecological concerns, necessitating compliance with the Forest Conservation Act and other environmental regulations.

●  Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combines biological, cultural, and chemical methods for sustainable pest control, aligned with the precautionary principle and EIA notification requirements.

●  Government Role: Ministry of Agriculture ensures farmer welfare, food security, and environmental safety through regulatory frameworks that incorporate environmental democracy and prevent post facto regulatory challenges, drawing from principles established in the Vanashakti judgment.