Question : Substandard-Spurious Insecticides Seeds and Chemical Fertilizers

(a) the details of the States in the country where cases of sale/circulation of adulterated/ spurious and substandard pesticides, seeds and chemical fertilizers have come to the notice of the Government along with the details of the corrective action taken by the Government in this regard;

(b) the details of the action taken against the companies manufacturing sub-standard/spurious insecticides, seeds and chemical fertilizers and to ban the sale of products of these companies before cancelling the licenses of traders;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor and the reaction of the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

???? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (d): Under the provision of the Insecticides Act, 1968, the Central and State Government have notified 182 and 10500 number of Insecticides Inspectors respectively, to carry out inspection of manufacturing, storage and sale points etc., draw samples of pesticides and have them analysed with the help of notified Pesticide Analysts. Prosecution is initiated in competent courts of law in cases of violation of the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968. This Act has also vested State Governments with legal authority to investigate complaints and take legal action against offenders. As per the information provided from the States, a total of 63490 samples were analysed in 2016-17, out of which 2.32 % (1470) were found to be misbranded. The details are at Annexure I
Contd…2/-

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The Seeds Act, 1966, Seeds Rules, 1968 and Seeds (Control) Order, 1893 have sufficient provisions to check the sale of sub-standard and spurious seeds. States are empowered to tale punitive action against such companies and seed traders on contravention of provisions of the Seeds Act, 1966. There are provisions of notified Seed Inspectors, Seed Analysts and Seed Testing lab in the Seeds Act, 1966 for this purpose. The Seed law enforcement report for 2016-17 is at Annexure II.
The Fertilizers (Control) Order, 1985 regulate the trade, price, quality and distribution of fertilizers. State governments are adequately empowered under this Act to take appropriate administrative and legal actions against those dealers/manufacturers/importers who do not comply with the provisions. Further, samples of Fertilizer are drawn periodically by the Fertilizer Inspectors of the State Governments from retailers/wholesalers and manufacturing units etc. for testing in the notified laboratories to check their quality. During 2016-17, around 5.3% samples were reported non-standard. The Details are at Annexure III. In addition, the details of follow up action on non-standard samples during 2016-17 is at Annexure IV.