Agriculture Ministry Seeks Public Feedback on Draft Pesticides Management Bill 2025 to Replace 1968 Act

The Agriculture Ministry has unveiled the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, aiming to replace the outdated Insecticides Act of 1968 and the Insecticides Rules of 1971. This new legislation seeks to introduce stricter penalties for violations. The ministry has called for public feedback by February 4, 2026, to refine the bill before it is presented in Parliament.

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The proposed legislation focuses on enhancing services for farmers through transparency and traceability. It aims to streamline processes using digital methods and technology while imposing tougher penalties on counterfeit pesticides. The bill also mandates accreditation for testing laboratories to ensure that only quality pesticides reach farmers.

Key Features and Stakeholder Engagement

Among its key features, the draft bill includes provisions for compounding offences with increased penalties, which will be determined by state-level authorities. This approach aims to balance the ease of living for farmers with the ease of doing business for industry stakeholders. The amendments are designed to strengthen administrative control and management of pesticides nationwide.

As part of the pre-legislative consultation process, the draft bill is accessible on the ministry's website at https://agriwelfare.gov.in. Stakeholders and the public can submit their comments and suggestions in MS Word or PDF format via email to [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].

Industry Response and Future Steps

Ankur Aggarwal, Chairman of CropLife India, commented on the draft bill: "We are currently in the process of examining the draft Pesticides Management Bill 2025 revised 2020 bill. We shall arrive at a consolidated view of the industry and share a detailed response in due course." This indicates ongoing industry analysis and engagement with the proposed changes.

The legislation aims to improve both farmer welfare and business operations within the pesticide sector. By incorporating modern technology and stricter regulations, it seeks to address longstanding issues in pesticide management while fostering a more efficient agricultural environment.

With inputs from PTI