Pesticides Management Bill: Consultation and Industry Concerns
Why in the news
The Centre reopened consultations on the long-pending Pesticides Management Bill (PMB), and industry has raised concerns.
About the Bill
- Regulates import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of pesticides.
- Mandatory registration and licensing of makers, distributors and dealers; clear labels and hazard warnings.
- Inspections, monitoring and strict penalties; power to ban hazardous pesticides.
- Backs bio-pesticides and integrated pest management.
Industry concerns
| Area | Concern | Suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Wide discretion for state officers; uneven enforcement | Uniform terms, central digital system, interstate sales without fresh licence |
| Sampling, Section 40(1)(d) | No random selection; risk of selective action and corruption | Rotational sampling, digital records |
| Bans, Section 35 | Vague grounds, no scientific probe | 60–90 day bans backed by science |
| Data protection | 5-year Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) for new molecules, in the 2008 draft, was dropped | Without it, research may suffer |
Exam angle
- Term: RDP; sections flagged: 35 and 40(1)(d).