Question : VIOLATION OF INSECTICIDE ACT

(a) whether the Indian companies producing pesticides are providing good quality pesticides at fair price in comparison to the international companies;

(b) if so, the details in this regard;

(c) whether the said international companies have misled the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee after the advent of Indian companies in this sector and the committee has been giving permission to import technical grade insecticides without their registration;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether any company has been found guilty of violating the provisions under Insecticides Act, 1968; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI ARUN YADAV)

(a) & (b): Indian as well as international companies producing pesticides are required to register them with the Registration Committee constituted under Section 5 of the Insecticides Act, 1968. Quality of pesticides is monitored by drawing pesticide samples and analyzing them. As per data available, about 3% of the samples analyzed fail to conform to the specifications laid down. Data on prices of pesticides sold by Indian and international companies separately is not maintained.

(c) & (d) Technical Grade insecticides can only be imported by a company after obtaining registration from the Registration Committee for import of such insecticides.

(e) & (f): Enforcement of various provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971 framed thereunder mainly rests with the State Departments of Agriculture.

However, a complaint has been received regarding violation of Insecticides Act, 1968 by M/s. Syngenta India Ltd. and has been referred to the Registration Committee.