Government bans imports of 25 insecticides, formulations

13 August 2007

Twenty-five insecticides and their formulations and four insecticide formulations are banned for import, manufacture and use in the country. In addition, two insecticides have been banned for use in the country except their manufacture for export. Restriction has been imposed on use of nine insecticides.

This was stated by Kanti Lal Bhuria, minister of state for agriculture in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

The usage of 37 pesticides has been reviewed recently by an expert group, constituted by the registration committee, under the Insecticides Act, 1968. The recommendations of an expert group regarding 21 pesticides have been accepted by the government.

Consequently, the use of fenthion is banned in agriculture except for locust control in scheduled desert area and public health and the use of diazinon has been banned in agriculture except for household purposes. The use of metoxuron has also been withdrawn. The recommendations regarding remaining pesticides are under consideration of the government.

The list of insecticides banned and restricted is as follows:
A. Pesticides banned for manufacture, import and use