An Expert Committee was constituted by Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India under the chairmanship of Dr. Anupam Verma (former National Professor), IARI, New Delhi to review 66 pesticides which are banned/restricted in other countries but continued to be registered for use in India.
The report submitted by Expert Committee was forwarded to the Registration Committee (RC) for consultation under section 27(2) of the Insecticides Act, 1968.
The Registration committee deliberated the report of the Expert Committee in its 361st special meeting held on 22.12.2015 and accepted its recommendations with some observations.
The Government of India, after considering the recommendations of the Expert committee along with observations of the Registration committee, had issued an order on 14.10.2016 whereby out of 66 pesticides, 12 pesticides were banned, 6 pesticides were recommended to be phased out by the year 2020.
One pesticide (Endosulfan) was not reviewed being under consideration of Supreme Court but was later banned by the Hon’ble Court. One Pesticide (Fenitrothion) was already banned for use in agriculture.
On receipt of new studies / reports/ references/ information by the government from time to time, registered pesticides are reviewed with regard to their safety and efficacy.
The review is done by constituting expert committees. Based on the recommendations of such expert committees and after due consultation with Registration Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has so far banned or phased out 46 pesticides and 4 pesticide formulations for import, manufacture or use in the country. In addition, 8 pesticide registrations have been withdrawn and 9 pesticides have been placed under restricted use (see Annexure).
The government is promoting use of biopesticides, which are generally safer than chemical pesticides. For this, the approved pesticides on various crops are displayed in public domain on the official website of the Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine & Storage.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Friday.
LIST OF PESTICIDES WHICH ARE BANNED AND RESTRICTED USE :
(As on 01.10.2022)
- PESTICIDES / FORMULATIONS BANNED IN INDIA
| A. | Pesticides Banned for manufacture, import and use. |
| 1. | Alachlor(Vide S.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018) |
| 2. | Aldicarb (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17th July20001) |
| 3. | Aldrin |
| 4. | Benzene Hexachloride |
| 5. | Benomyl (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018) |
| 6. | Calcium Cyanide |
| 7. | Carbaryl (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018) |
| 8. | Chlorbenzilate (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17th July 2001) |
| 9. | Chlordane |
| 10. | Chlorofenvinphos |
| 11. | Copper Acetoarsenite |
| 12. | Diazinon (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018) |
| 13. | Dibromochloropropane (DBCP) (vide S.O. 569 (E) dated 25th July1989) |
| 14. | Dichlorovos(Vide S.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018) |
| 15. | Dieldrin (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17th July 2001) |
| 16. | Endosulfan (vide ad-Interim order of the Supreme Court of India in the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 213 of 2011 dated 13th May, 2011 and finally disposed of dated 10thJanuary, 2017) |
| 17. | Endrin |
| 18. | Ethyl Mercury Chloride |
| 19. | Ethyl Parathion |
| 20. | Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17th July 2001) |
| 21. | Fenarimol (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018) |
| 22. | Fenthion (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018) |
| 23. | Heptachlor |
| 24. | Lindane (Gamma-HCH) |
| 25. | Linuron (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018) |
| 26. | Maleic Hydrazide (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17th July 2001) |
| 27. | Menazon |
| 28. | Methoxy Ethyl Mercury Chloride (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018) |
| 29. | Methyl Parathion (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018) |
| 30. | Metoxuron |
| 31. | Nitrofen |
| 32. | Paraquat Dimethyl Sulphate |
| 33. | Pentachloro Nitrobenzene (PCNB) (vide S.O. 569 (E) dated 25th July 1989) |
| 34. | Pentachlorophenol |
| 35. | Phenyl Mercury Acetate |
| 36. | Phorate(Vide S.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018) |
| 37. | Phosphamidon(Vide S.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018) |
| 38. | Sodium Cyanide ( banned for Insecticidal purpose only vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018)*(*Regulation to be continued in the extant manner for non-insecticidal uses) |
| 39. | Sodium Methane Arsonate |
| 40. | Tetradifon |
| 41. | Thiometon (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018) |
| 42. | Toxaphene(Camphechlor) (vide S.O. 569 (E) dated 25th July 1989) |
| 43. | Triazophos(Vide S.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018) |
| 44. | Tridemorph (vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018) |
| 45. | Trichloro acetic acid (TCA) (vide S.O. 682 (E) dated 17th July 2001) |
| 46. | Trichlorfon(Vide S.O. 3951(E), dated 08.08.2018) |
| B. | Pesticide formulations banned for import, manufacture and use |
| 1. | Carbofuron 50% SP (vide S.O. 678 (E) dated 17th July 2001) |
| 2. | Methomyl 12.5% L |
| 3. | Methomyl 24% formulation |
| 4. | Phosphamidon 85% SL |
| C. | Pesticides Withdrawn(Withdrawal may become inoperative as soon as required complete data as per theguidelines is generated and submitted by the Pesticides Industry to the Government and accepted by the Registration Committee. (S.O 915(E) dated 15thJun,2006) |
| 1. | Dalapon |
| 2. | Ferbam |
| 3. | Formothion |
| 4. | Nickel Chloride |
| 5. | Paradichlorobenzene (PDCB) |
| 6. | Simazine |
| 7. | Sirmate (S.O. 2485 (E) dated 24th September 2014) |
| 8. | Warfarin (vide S.O. 915 (E) dated 15th June 2006) |
II. PESTICIDES RESTRICTED FOR USE IN THE COUNTRY
| S.No. | Name of Pesticides | Details of Restrictions |
| 1. | Aluminium Phosphide | The Pest Control Operations with Aluminium Phosphide may be undertaken only by Govt./Govt. undertakings / Govt. Organizations / pest control operators under the strict supervision of Govt. Experts or experts whose expertise is approved by the Plant Protection Advisor to Govt. of India except 1Aluminium Phosphide 15 % 12 g tablet and 2Aluminum Phosphide 6 % tablet. [RC decision circular F No. 14-11(2)-CIR-II (Vol. II) dated 21-09-1984 and G.S.R. 371(E) dated 20th may 1999]. 1Decision of 282nd RC held on 02-11-2007 and, 2Decision of 326th RC held on 15-02-2012. The production, marketing and use of Aluminium Phosphide tube packs with a capacity of 10 and 20 tablets of 3 g each of Aluminium Phosphide are banned completely. (S.O.677 (E) dated 17thJuly, 2001) |
| 2. | Captafol | The use of Captafol as foliar spray is banned. Captafol shall be used only as seeddresser.(S.O.569 (E) dated 25thJuly, 1989) The manufacture of Captafol 80 % powder for dry seed treatment (DS) is banned for use in the country except manufacture for export.(S.O.679 (E) dated 17thJuly, 2001) |
| 3. | Cypermethrin | Cypermethrin 3 % Smoke Generator is to be used only through Pest Control Operators and not allowed to be used by the General Public. [Order ofHon,bleHigh Court of Delhi in WP(C) 10052 of 2009 dated 14-07- 2009 and LPA-429/2009 dated 08-09-2009] |
| 4. | Dazomet | The use of Dazomet is not permitted on Tea. (S.O.3006(E) dated 31st Dec, 2008) |
| 5. | Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloro ethane (DDT) | The use of DDT for the domestic Public Health Programme is restricted up to 10,000 Metric Tonnes per annum, except in case of any major outbreak of epidemic. M/s Hindustan Insecticides Ltd., the sole manufacturer of DDT in the country may manufacture DDT for export to other countries for use in vectorcontrol for public health purpose. The export of DDT to Parties and State non- Parties shall be strictly in accordance with the paragraph 2(b) article 3 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). (S.O.295 (E) dated 8th March, 2006)Use of DDT in Agriculture is withdrawn. In very special circumstances warranting the use of DDT for plant protection work, the state or central Govt. may purchase it directly from M/s Hindustan Insecticides Ltd. to be used under expert Governmental supervision. (S.O.378 (E) dated 26thMay, 1989). |
| 6. | Fenitrothion | The use of Fenitrothion is banned in Agriculture except for locust control in scheduled desert area and public health.(S.O.706 (E) dated 03rdMay, 2007) |
| 7. | Methyl Bromide | Methyl Bromide may be used only by Govt./Govt. undertakings/Govt. Organizations / Pest control operators under the strict supervision of Govt. Experts or Experts whose expertise is approved by the Plant Protection Advisor.[G.S.R.371 (E) dated 20thMay, 1999 and earlier RC decision] |
| 8. | Monocrotophos | Monocrotophos is banned for use on vegetables. (S.O.1482 (E) dated 10thOct, 2005) |
| 9. | Trifluralin | (i) The Registration, import, manufacture, formulation, transport, sell and its all uses except use in wheat shall be prohibited and completely banned from 8th August, 2018.(i) (ii) A cautionary statement has to be incorporated in the label and leaflet that it is toxic to aquatic organism, hence should not be used near water bodies, aquaculture or pisciculturearea.(vide S.O 3951(E) dated 8th August, 2018) |
