June 11,2018:
Group of Indian pesticide Manufacturers has stated that the Proposed Pesticides Management Bill, which is likely to be finalised this month, will harm both the farmers and Domestic industry by not making it mandatory for active ingredients of pesticides to be revealed in the registration process.
Pradip Dave, President of Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India stated that,“Draft Bill will allow importers to register the readymade products without registering active ingredients”.
He further added that this would prevent the Indian manufacturers from registering ‘me-too registrations’, and producing pesticides at a cheaper rate. Thus the Foreign manufacturers will get total monopoly and can loot the Indian farmers.
He pointed out that the farmers were able to buy a pesticide from the Indian manufacturers at less than half the rate as sold by importers or multi-national corporations. For example, Bispyribac sodium, a herbicide for paddy, was introduced in the market at ₹8,000 per kg by an MNC but is now sold by Indian manufacturers at ₹3,500/kg.
Bill which is in a draft stage was made available for the public feedback by the Ministry for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in February 2018, is intended to replace and update the Insecticides Act, 1968. Existing law mandates the registration of active ingredients, and allows for “me-too” registrations under Section 9(4).
In the year 2007, Government had started allowing the importers to register new formulations while keeping the active ingredients secret for a fixed period. Though this policy was challenged in the Gujarat High Court and struck down in 2013, importers have been reluctant to comply.
Presently. Domestic Pesticide market is valued at around ₹20,000 crore, of which importers hold 30%, according to the PMFAI.
Mr. Dave added that if the draft Bill was approved in its current form, it would demolish the concept of Make in India in the pesticides sector.
Source Hindu
Picture Source :