Centre Unveils Draft Pesticides Management Bill to Replace 1968 Law, Tighten Safety Net

The draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2026, aims to modernize and replace the outdated Insecticides Act of 1968. Its key objectives include:

• Regulating the manufacture, import, storage, sale, transport, distribution, use, and disposal of pesticides to ensure they are safe and effective.
• Minimizing risks to humans, animals, non-target organisms, and the environment through stricter safety norms and monitoring mechanisms.
• Promoting the development and use of biological pesticides and those based on traditional knowledge, thus encouraging sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices.
• Establishing scientific governance through bodies such as the Central Pesticides Board and a Registration Committee to ensure compliance and continuous evaluation of safety and efficacy standards.

The Bill represents a paradigm shift from mere regulation of insecticides to comprehensive management of all pesticide categories, integrating public safety, environmental protection, and scientific oversight.

The Insecticides Act of 1968 was designed to regulate the use of chemical insecticides but is now considered insufficient due to:

• The expansion of pesticide types beyond just insecticides to include herbicides, fungicides, plant growth regulators, defoliants, desiccants, and post-harvest agents.
• The increasing use of chemical pesticides with potential risks to human health, livestock, wildlife, and the environment, which demands stricter safety and monitoring mechanisms.
• The need for a scientifically robust, digitally enabled, and transparent regulatory system for registration, evaluation, and recall of pesticides.

Replacing the 1968 Act ensures that modern agricultural practices, sustainable alternatives, and public health concerns are addressed comprehensively. The new Bill also aligns with global best practices for pesticide management and environmental protection, promoting safer agriculture and food security.

The draft Pesticides Management Bill introduces a structured mechanism to ensure the safety and efficacy of pesticides:

• A Registration Committee will be appointed by the Union Government to manage all aspects of pesticide registration, including granting, reviewing, amending, and cancelling certificates of registration.
• Applicants intending to manufacture or import pesticides must submit applications digitally, and all registered pesticides will be maintained in a national digital register for transparency and monitoring.
• The Committee will periodically review safety and efficacy standards, specifying conditions under which pesticides can be used, and enabling recall or withdrawal if necessary. This ensures a dynamic regulatory system that can respond to new scientific evidence or emerging risks.

By institutionalizing digital registration, scientific evaluation, and periodic review, the Bill strengthens the governance framework and reduces risks associated with unsafe pesticide use.

The Bill provides for penalties including imprisonment up to five years or fines ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh for offences that result in death or grievous hurt. The reasons include:

• Deterrence: Strong penalties discourage negligent or malicious manufacture, sale, or use of pesticides.
• Public safety: Pesticides pose high risks to human health and the environment if misused, making stringent enforcement necessary.
• Accountability: By attaching severe legal consequences, the Bill ensures that manufacturers, importers, and distributors adhere to scientific standards and safety norms.

For example, if a contaminated pesticide causes grievous harm to farm workers, the Bill provides a clear legal framework to hold the responsible parties accountable, ensuring both compensation and deterrence.

While the Bill is comprehensive and forward-looking, several challenges may arise in implementation:

• Regulatory capacity: Effective enforcement requires trained personnel at both central and state levels, as well as infrastructure for monitoring and inspection.
• Industry resistance: Manufacturers and distributors may resist stricter regulations, digital compliance requirements, or the recall of unsafe pesticides.
• Public awareness: Farmers and pest control operators need to be educated on safe pesticide use, adherence to new registration requirements, and environmental impacts.
• Coordination: Harmonizing the roles of the Central Pesticides Board, Registration Committee, and state authorities will be crucial for consistent enforcement.

Without addressing these challenges, the Bill’s objectives of public safety, environmental protection, and sustainable pesticide use may not be fully realized.

The draft Bill promotes safer and sustainable pesticide practices in multiple ways:

• Encouraging the development and use of biological pesticides and those based on traditional knowledge, which reduce dependence on harmful chemicals.
• Specifying standards for disposal of pesticides and their packaging in an environmentally sound manner, minimizing soil and water contamination.
• Mandating a digital registration system for pesticides, enabling traceability, transparency, and quick recall of hazardous products.
• Providing regulatory guidelines for advertisements and marketing, preventing misleading claims that could endanger users or consumers.

For example, farmers using bio-pesticides that meet the Committee’s criteria can ensure crop protection while minimizing environmental and health risks.

India has faced numerous instances of pesticide-related health and environmental crises, such as contamination of water sources and acute poisoning among farm workers. The Pesticides Management Bill aims to tackle these challenges through:

• Scientific oversight: The Registration Committee evaluates the safety and efficacy of all pesticides before approval, reducing the chances of hazardous products reaching the market.
• Regulated usage: By defining conditions of use and phasing out unsafe chemicals, the Bill minimizes exposure risks to humans, livestock, and wildlife.
• Accountability and enforcement: Penalties for misuse and illegal distribution provide a deterrent effect and reinforce compliance.
• Environmental protection: Proper disposal standards, promotion of bio-pesticides, and digital tracking reduce soil, water, and air pollution.

This integrated framework ensures that agriculture in India can benefit from pesticides without compromising human health or ecological integrity, offering a practical model for sustainable pest management.