CCFI Submits Objections and Recommendations on Pesticide Management Bill (PMB) 2025

The Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) has submitted its objections and suggestions to the Government of India on the proposed Pesticide Management Bill (PMB) 2025, following stakeholder consultations. The submission was made on 4 February 2026, with a focus on safeguarding the interests of indigenous manufacturers while strengthening the regulatory framework.

CCFI acknowledged the government’s consultative approach in drafting the Bill and welcomed certain provisions.

“It was a very prudent decision not to consider data protection or data exclusivity in the interest of indigenous manufacturers. Likewise, deleting the clause on price control would make the industry more competitive in the domestic market, an area where we are committed to making our presence felt as a global manufacturing and R&D innovation hub for agrochemicals,” said Mr. Deepak Shah, Chairman, CCFI.

However, the federation flagged several concerns that it believes require reconsideration before finalisation of the legislation.

CCFI noted that the industry’s long-standing demand to avoid holding company directors automatically liable in cases related to misbranding has not been addressed in the current draft. It also expressed apprehension over provisions granting wide powers to central and state governments to restrict or stop the sale of insecticides for up to one year, stating that such authority should be accompanied by defined accountability mechanisms.

The federation further pointed out that certain offences attract what it described as excessive penalties, suggesting that these be reviewed and rationalised. Another concern relates to restrictions on the sale or distribution of products banned in India even for export to countries where such products remain permitted and in demand, which, according to CCFI, could affect India’s export competitiveness.

A major gap identified by the industry body is the absence of specific measures to promote research and development of New Chemical Entities (NCEs). CCFI stated that the Bill does not adequately align with national priorities such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, despite India’s significant manufacturing base and technical expertise in agrochemicals.

Referring to technological advancements in agriculture, Mr. Shah added, “India’s democratisation of AI-enabled agricultural solutions has delivered transformative outcomes. The India AI Mission is committed to ensuring these capabilities reach farmers in the remotest corners. We need to prioritise indigenous solutions that function in low-bandwidth, multilingual environments and ensure that every farmer has access to the same resources as a global agri-business.”

In addition to its objections, CCFI has proposed the inclusion of a dedicated regulatory framework for the sale of pesticides through e-commerce and online platforms. The federation warned that, in the absence of explicit provisions, digital sales could occur without adequate oversight, leading to risks such as unauthorised sellers and circulation of unregistered or prohibited products.

To address this, CCFI recommended stringent licensing requirements for entities selling pesticides online, defined responsibilities for e-commerce intermediaries hosting such products, verification protocols for buyers wherever applicable, mandatory record-keeping of transactions, and clear legal definitions related to the e-commerce ecosystem within PMB 2025.

CCFI stated that incorporating these measures would strengthen regulatory control while supporting farmers and ensuring responsible growth of the agrochemical sector.

The federation has urged the government to consider its recommendations, noting that a balanced and innovation-oriented regulatory framework would benefit both the farming community and India’s position as a global agrochemical manufacturing hub.

1. Full/complete licensing requirements for entities undertaking sale of pesticides through online platforms;

2. obligations of e-commerce intermediaries/ marketplaces providing pesticide listings on its platforms;

3. conditions relating to verification of buyer credentials, where applicable;

4. record- keeping for online transactions. 

5. necessary definitions relating to e-commerce framework should be included in PMB, 2025.