Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Friday that draft legislation concerning seeds and pesticides is nearing completion and is expected to be presented in the next session of Parliament. In response, CropLife India, which represents about 70% of the domestic pesticide sector, has called on the government to incorporate a five-year regulatory data protection provision in the upcoming Pesticides Management Bill (PMB).
CropLife India officials warned that failing to include such a provision would deter companies from investing in and introducing advanced crop protection technologies in India. Chairman Ankur Aggarwal emphasized that, under the existing Insecticides Act of 1968, there is no safeguard for the extensive data required for registering new pesticides, which hampers innovation and leaves farmers reliant on older and often hazardous products.
The organization has submitted formal proposals to the Ministry of Agriculture, suggesting that data protection should span five years post-registration and apply to both patented and off-patent products with newly generated registration data. Currently, Indian agriculture suffers crop losses between 10% and 35% annually due to pests, leading to substantial economic repercussions.
Aggarwal pointed out that while China offers a six-year data protection term and the EU, Brazil, and the U.S. provide ten years, India’s approach remains outdated. Additionally, industry representatives have raised concerns over increasing restrictions from European markets regarding pesticide residues, particularly affecting exports like premium tea.
CropLife India also highlighted the unregulated nature of online pesticide sales, which poses significant risks with potentially unverified products reaching farmers. They advocated for more precise definitions of corporate liability related to regulatory breaches and caution against provisions that could lead to indefinite bans of pesticides without scientific validation.
Why this story matters
- Ensures access to modern agricultural technologies that are safer and more effective for Indian farmers.
Key takeaway
- The introduction of regulatory data protection could foster innovation and address crop loss due to pests.
Opposing viewpoint
- Some may argue that proposed regulations could complicate the approval process for new pesticides, potentially delaying benefits to farmers.
