Pesticides Management Bill, 2025

Why in News?

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has released the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, for consultation with all stakeholders and the public.

• Aim - To modernise and replace the outdated Insecticides Act, 1968 and its rules.
• To ensure the supply of quality and safe pesticides for farmers.
• To decriminalize petty offences for Ease of Living as well as Ease of Doing Business.
• Key provisions - Comprehensive regulation - Covers the full life cycle of pesticides manufacture, import, labelling, sale, transport, use and disposal under a unified framework.
• Centralized authority - Establishment of a Central Pesticides Board (advisory) and a Registration Committee (executive) to scrutinize and approve pesticide registrations.
• Mandatory registration - No pesticide can be manufactured or imported without prior registration, with time-bound decisions (12–18 months).
• Digital governance - Use of digital platforms for registration, licensing, inspections and record-keeping to streamline compliance and reduce delays.
• Quality assurance - Mandatory accreditation of pesticide testing laboratories to ensure only quality-certified products are available to farmers.
• Control on spurious products - Stricter penalties and controls to deter fake, substandard or banned pesticides, including provisions for compounding of offences.
• State role - State authorities can define enhanced penalties within the framework, balancing enforcement with local needs.
• Institutional Framework - Central Pesticides Board- An advisory body including representatives from Health, Environment, and Agriculture ministries to set safety and disposal standards.
• Registration Committee- The executive authority responsible for evaluating pesticide applications via mandatory digital modes based on safety and efficacy.
• Pesticide Inspectors - Empowered to enter premises, seize stocks, and stop the sale of unsafe products for up to 60 days pending laboratory results.

References

1. PIB | Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025
2. The Week | Pesticides Management Bill, 2025