Whalesbook
The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has introduced a new draft of the Pesticide Management Bill, 2025, on January 7. This legislation intends to regulate the entire lifecycle of pesticides, from manufacturing and import to sale and use.
Overhaul Attempt
The proposed law is designed to supersede the outdated Insecticides Act of 1968 and its associated rules, representing the latest effort to modernize India's pesticide regulatory framework after several prior attempts. The move aims to provide a more robust system for managing agricultural chemicals.
Limited Substantive Changes
Critics observe that the 2025 draft introduces only minor modifications compared to the Pesticides Management Bill circulated in 2020. Many significant concerns raised by experts and civil society organizations, particularly concerning regulatory ambiguity, enforcement capabilities, and accountability, appear to remain unaddressed in the revised text.
Missing Provisions
While the bill's clause count has decreased from 65 to 55, its language is perceived by detractors as weaker. Essential demands such as enhanced regulatory and prohibition powers for state governments, provisions for price regulation, and clear mechanisms for redressal and liability are conspicuously absent from the current proposal.
The draft states an aim to “strive to minimise risk to human beings, animals, living organisms other than pests, and the environment.” This is a diluted phrasing compared to the “minimise risk” advocated by groups like Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India in earlier iterations.
Farmer-Centric Claims
The Union government asserts that the bill is a “farmer-centric legislation,” incorporating transparency and traceability to improve farmer services and “promote ease of living.” This comes after Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan heard farmer complaints about spurious pesticides and fake seeds during a recent campaign.
State Powers Limited
Despite government claims, state governments are not granted broad regulatory powers for pesticide prohibition. The bill allows them to notify a prohibition on distribution, sale, or use in specific areas for a maximum of one year. This decision requires subsequent review by a Union government-formed ‘Registration Committee’, comprising nominees from various central ministries and research institutions.
A Central Pesticides Board is also proposed to recommend pesticide inclusions, set good manufacturing practices, establish pest control operator standards, and outline recall and disposal procedures. It will also frame protocols for handling poisoning incidents.
Accountability Concerns
Public policy experts note that while the board's functions mirror 2020 proposals, they lack statutory backing as law provisions. State governments are sidelined from punitive actions, potentially diminishing the bill's impact on companies and offenders. Notably, the draft lacks any mention of ‘criminal liability’ for manufacturers, distributors, or marketers in cases of misuse, such as environmental poisoning or suicides.