Draft Pesticides Management Bill: Replacing the 1968 Law
Why in the news
The Agriculture Ministry sought public comments on a draft Pesticides Management Bill that would take over from the Insecticides Act of 1968, aiming at safe, effective and eco-friendly pesticides.
Need for a new law
- The current law is more than 55 years old.
- It does not adequately handle modern pesticides, environmental worries, health risks to humans and animals, or newer biological and traditional pest-control methods.
Key facts
- Controls every stage: manufacture, import, packaging, labelling, storage, transport, sale, advertising, distribution, use and disposal.
- Broad definition of pesticide: chemical and biological agents, pest killers and repellents, plant growth regulators, defoliants, desiccants, sprouting inhibitors, and crop protectants used before or after harvest.
- Safety aims: protect humans, animals, beneficial organisms and the environment, and promote biological and traditional solutions.
| Proposed body | Role |
|---|---|
| Central Pesticides Board | Advises Centre and States on technical matters, good manufacturing practices, safe disposal, advertisement standards and recalls |
| Registration Committee | Approves or rejects pesticides, sets conditions, reviews them periodically, cancels registrations and keeps a digital national register |
Penalty
If a pesticide causes death or grievous injury: jail up to 5 years, fine from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh, or both. This is meant to ensure accountability and deter offenders.
Exam angle
- Ministry: Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Law to be replaced: Insecticides Act, 1968.
- New bodies: Central Pesticides Board and Registration Committee.