Question : NATIONAL POLICY ON PESTICIDES

(a) whether the formulation of a National Policy on ill effects of pesticides on human beings and food is under consideration; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a) & (b): No such policy is contemplated. However, to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent the risk to human beings or animals and for matters connected therewith, the Insecticides Act, 1968 is already in place. The Registration Committee constituted under section 5 of the Act registers pesticides only after satisfying itself about their efficacy and safety to human beings, animals and the environment.
Further, the Government is administering the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 to check pesticides residues in food and water etc. and is also engaged in the fixation of maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for various pesticides. The Government has also decided not to register any pesticide without fixation of MRL in respect thereof.
The Government is also promoting Integrated Pest Management, encompassing cultural, mechanical and biological methods for control of plant pests and diseases and envisaging minimal need based use of chemical pesticides to restrict the ill effects on account of pesticides on food and human health.
The Government has also decided to formulate a scheme for monitoring of pesticides residues at national level, in various agricultural commodities to check the level of contamination on account of pesticides residues.