Question : ILLEGAL SALE OF INSECTICIDES AND HERBICIDES

(a) the details of the cases pending with the Government against the domestic and foreign companies engaged in selling of insecticides and herbicides illegally;

(b) whether any investigation has been conducted by the Government in this regard;

(c) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(d) the number of companies which have taken forged certificate from the foreign companies;

(e) whether the Government proposes to bring a strict law to check such activities; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) to (c): In order to check illegal sale of pesticides in the country, the Central Insecticide Inspectors (168 nos.) and State Insecticide Inspectors (12,335 nos.) draw samples of pesticides for quality testing.

During 2013-14, a total of 63,557 samples of pesticides were drawn, of which 1,495 samples were found to be misbranded. Prosecution has been launched in 476 cases.

(d): No such information is maintained in the Ministry.

(e) & (f): In the Pesticides Management Bill, 2008 pending in Parliament, punishments have been prescribed for ‘misbranded’, ‘sub-standard’ and ‘spurious’ pesticides.