(a) whether the number of companies and factories producing sub-standard
fertilizers are fast increasing in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the action taken by the authorities against such factories; and
(d) the action being taken by the Union Government to stop the sale of such sub-
standard fertilizers?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a) to (d): No case of large scale manufacture/ sale or distribution of sub-standard
fertilizers has been brought to the notice of the Government of India. Fertilizers have
been declared as essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, (ECA)
1955. In order to ensure adequate availability of good quality of fertilizers at reasonable
price to the farmers, the Government of India under Section 3 of the Essential
Commodities Act has promulgated the Fertilizer (Control) Order, (FCO) 1985. FCO
empowers the Government to regulate the price; distribution and quality of fertilizers.
Under clause 19 of FCO sale/manufacture of such fertilizers which are not of prescribed
standard is strictly prohibited. Under clause 8 of FCO, it is mandatory to obtain the
Authorization Letter from the notified Authority for sale of fertilizers.
The State Governments are adequately empowered to take appropriate action
against the sale of non-standard fertilizers. Violation of provisions of FCO can
invite penal action, including prosecution of offenders. The offender who is convicted
may be awarded the sentence upto seven years` imprisonment under ECA, besides
cancellation of authorization certificate. There are 71 fertilizer testing laboratories
including four laboratories of the Government of Indian at Faridabad, Kalyani, Mumbai
and Chennai with an annual analyzing capacity of 1.32 lakh samples. During the year
2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09, the percentages of samples of fertilizers declared non-
standard at all India level were 6.0%, 6.2% and 5.5% respectively. Information available
on follow up action taken in 2008-09 with regard to non standard samples of fertilizers
state-wise is annexed. Moreover state governments have been sensitized from time to
time on the issues of sales, manufacture, distribution and quality of fertilizers
conforming to FCO standards.