(a) whether a number of pesticides which are banned in other countries are in use in India;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any research has been conducted by the Government to know the harmful effects of the use of such pesticides;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. There are 67 pesticides which have been banned / severely
restricted in some countries of the world but are still being used in India, the list
is at Annexure-I.
(c) to (e): The registration of a pesticide is given only after scrutiny of data,
generated by different Research Institutions / Laboratories on different parameters like
chemistry, bioefficacy, packaging and processing, and toxicology including short-term and
long-term effects of these pesticides, as per the provisions of Insecticides Act, 1968.
Further, to ensure continued safety of such products, the Government appoints expert groups
from time-to-time to review any registered pesticide which may be reported to cause any
adverse effect or are banned/ severely restricted in other countries and action is taken
on the basis of the recommendation of such expert groups.