Surging Imports of readymade Pesticides Formulations without registering Technical Grade Pesticides used in the said Formulations in India, is increasing in a threatening pace every year which presently stands at Rs.10,000 crores plus.
The policy is causing its worst impact on Indian Farmers due to high cost of imported products due to monopolistic imports and marketing. In imports of Readymade Pesticide Formulations, the importers also pass on economic fluctuations of countries from where imported to Indian Farmers and hence imports becomes costly. Due to the monopolistic imports, Farmers are compelled to pay heavy prices for imported products which are sold to them at 100% to 250% profit margins by importers, resulting in marginalizing Farmers income due to higher inputs cost.
Post introduction of Insecticides Act, 1968 and Insecticides Rules 1971, for more than 35 years, Technical Grade Pesticides were registered in the country by Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC) in parallel to Formulation registration in true spirit and it was also as per policy mandated by FAO & WHO and followed by countries all over the world including major agricultural nations like USA, Europe, Brazil, China, Australia, Argentina etc. Regulations in these countries mandate mandatory registration of Technical Grade Pesticides prior to granting registrations for Formulation products.
The bad policy introduced in 2006 of allowing Registrations for imports of Readymade Pesticides Formulations without registering the Technical Grade Pesticides in the country, has impacted growth of the Indian agrochemical sector during last more than 14 years.
Contrary to the vision of “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat”, the policy allowing registrations for “Imports of readymade Pesticides Formulations without registering Technical Grade Products in the country” is ruining the prospects of self-reliance in the Agrochemical sector, as this policy discourages registration and production of Technical Grade Products in India by large-scale manufacturers, consequently its availability to Formulators who are largely MSMEs. MSMEs are mainly involved in manufacturing of Formulations making available the pesticides to Indian farmers at most economic price and major exporters.
Over last 14 years it has proved beyond doubt that regulatory changes post 2006 brought allowing registrations for imports of Readymade Pesticides Formulations without registering Technical Grade products under expectation to encourage entry of new molecules to India for the benefit of Indian Farmers, has only helped facilitating Formulation imports of off patent molecules with market monopolies.
More importantly, Imports of Readymade Pesticides Formulations without registration of Technical Grade products also run the risk to the health & safety of Farmers as well as soil and environment of the country. Technical grade active ingredients are the underlying main components in the Formulations responsible for its pesticidal actions (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc) and the same active ingredients that carry the risk and hazards, their evaluation and registration in the country is key and be the basis for registration.
Also, continuing the policy of Imports of Readymade Pesticide Formulation products without registering Technicals, only will help supporting investments, infrastructure and job opportunities abroad, rather than in India contrary to the vision of “Make in India” and “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”.
It is high time Government abolish the policy allowing registrations for “Imports of Readymade Pesticides Formulations (Finished Products) without registering Technical Grade Products and make provisions for compulsory registration of Technical Grade Pesticides (Active Ingredients) prior to grating registrations for Formulations.