Question : Sale of Toxic Insecticides

(a) whether the Government is aware that some foreign companies are setting extremely toxic insecticides without any safety warnings/instructions in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the maximum quantity of such insecticides are being used in Punjab, if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereto;

(d) whehter the Government has conducted any survey from time to time to find out the disease caused due to use of such insecticides;

(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the effective steps being taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) & (b): As per Insecticides Rules, 1971 framed under the Insecticides Act, 1968, sale or distribution of insecticides in the country is prohibited unless it is packed and labelled in accordance with the provisions of these rules.

(c): As per the information provided by the State of Punjab in the recently concluded Zonal Conference, a total of 3538 samples (up to December 2015) were collected and analysed, out of which 150 (4.23%) were found to be misbranded. Samples which are found misbranded are prosecuted and penalized under the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968.

(d) & (e): The Government registers pesticides after evaluating the safety of the product with respect to human health. Pesticides used in accordance with instructions on labels and leaflets, are unlikely to cause any bodily harm. In addition, Technical reviews are carried out from time to time and continued use of pesticides is permitted only if found safe.

Contd…2/-


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(f): Monitoring of quality of pesticides is a shared responsibility between the Central and State Governments. Central Government and State Governments have notified 168 and 11,229 Insecticides Inspectors respectively to check sale of misbranded pesticides. Insecticide samples are drawn on regular basis and analyzed in 68 State Pesticides Testing Laboratories (SPTLs) and at the two Regional Pesticides Testing Laboratories at Chandigarh and Kanpur. As per reports provided by the State Governments, 44139 samples of pesticides were analyzed during the year 2015-16 (up to December 2015), out of which 1165 samples were found (2.64%) were found misbranded, where action is initiated under the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968.

In addition, Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) under the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare conducts Farmers Field Schools to sensitize farmers regarding safe and judicious use of pesticides, use of bio-pesticides etc. A ‘Grow Safe Food’ campaign has also been initiated to carrying the message of safe and judicious use of pesticides to farmers and other stakeholders. Package of practices for control of pests and diseases in 67 crops have been revised to include techniques to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and encourage use of bio-pesticides and other alternative plant protection measures.


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