(a) whether the Government have a proposal to amend the Insecticides Act to
provide strict punishment to manufacturer of spurious pesticides;
(b) if so, the details of the changes likely to be made;
(c) whether any meeting with State Government representatives of pesticide industry
was held in this connection; and
(d) if so, the details of the suggestions given by them and action taken thereon?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) to (d): There is a proposal to amend the Insecticides Act,1968 to ensure effective
enforcement of certain provisions of the Act including enhancement of penalty to the
manufacturers of spurious pesticides. The State Governments and the Pesticides
Industry have also been consulted. Important changes likely to be made and
suggestions received from the States / Pesticide Associations are given in Annexure-I.
Annexure-I
(1). Presently, there is just one category i.e. `misbranded` for offences relating to
quality of pesticides whether the offences are of minor nature or of serious nature. It is
now proposed to make three categories, i.e. `misbranded`, `sub-standard` and `spurious`
and accordingly provide for graded punishment. The pesticides associations have
suggested for provision of compounding of the offences also.
(2). Section 9 (3) be amended so as to provide protection of 3 years to the first
registrant. Further, Section 9 which deals with registration does not have any provision
for suspension or cancellation of registration, which has now been proposed. A few
associations have opposed this amendment.
(3). Section 13 which deals with grant of license for manufacture, sale, stock, exhibit
for sale or exhibit any insecticide is proposed to be amended to provide for
qualifications for grant of such licences. Further, a sub-section 6 is proposed to be
inserted waiving off the requirement of licence for the retailers to sell,stock, etc. any
household insecticide. A single category licence for distributors, depot holders and
stockists is proposed for household insecticides.
(4). Section 21 is proposed to be amended so as to provide for stoppage of sale for
seven days by the Insecticide Inspector in case a sample is found to be sub-
standard/spurious. The sale can be stopped beyond seven days only by an officer not
below the rank of Joint Director (Agriculture).