10 September 2026, New Delhi: The Indian Micro-Fertilizers Manufacturers Association (IMMA) will convene a Government–Industry Round Table Dialogue on September 17, 2026, bringing together senior government officials, policymakers, regulators and industry representatives to discuss regulatory and policy priorities for India’s specialty fertilizer, micronutrient and biostimulant sectors.
The roundtable, to be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, will focus on measures to simplify regulatory processes, improve the ease of doing business, strengthen quality-control systems, facilitate exports and address tax-related issues, including the implementation of GST 2.0.
The dialogue follows policy recommendations emerging from IMMA’s 6th National Crop Nutrition Summit, held in Mumbai in February 2026. At the summit, industry stakeholders called for greater regulatory harmonisation, simplified licensing procedures, tax alignment and stronger quality-control mechanisms. The upcoming government-to-business (B2G) dialogue will seek to translate those recommendations into practical measures through direct engagement with policymakers and regulators.
Moving from Industry Recommendations to Policy Action
India’s specialty crop nutrition market is expanding as farmers increasingly adopt micronutrients, specialty fertilizers, customised formulations and biostimulants as part of more targeted crop nutrition strategies.
For manufacturers, however, the ability to innovate and scale depends increasingly on predictable regulatory systems, streamlined compliance requirements, efficient testing infrastructure and a trade environment that supports access to international markets.
Against this backdrop, the roundtable will centre on three broad priorities: regulatory simplification, global competitiveness and tax rationalisation.
The discussions will explore how India can maintain robust quality and regulatory oversight while reducing duplication and procedural delays that can affect product development, market access and investment.
Key Policy Priorities
Simplifying licensing and compliance: IMMA will advocate a “One Nation, One Licence” approach supported by a centralised Fertiliser Control Order (FCO) data stack, greater mutual recognition between states and digital rationalisation of regulatory submissions. The objective is to reduce repetitive filings and create more consistent compliance processes for manufacturers operating across India.
Strengthening the biostimulant regulatory framework: The industry will seek greater clarity and rationalisation of overlapping specifications, including those covering liquid micronutrients, water-soluble mixtures and advanced formulations. IMMA is expected to emphasise the need for a framework that protects product quality while providing sufficient flexibility to support scientific innovation.
Expanding quality-control capacity: To address testing bottlenecks, IMMA will seek greater recognition of NABL-accredited private laboratories as an interim measure until public testing infrastructure has sufficient capacity. Faster and more accessible testing could help reduce delays in product approvals and compliance processes.
Supporting exports and global competitiveness: The dialogue will examine customs and other trade-related barriers affecting specialty fertilizers and biostimulants, as well as opportunities arising from Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). IMMA will advocate measures to facilitate exports of non-subsidised, Made-in-India crop nutrition products and strengthen the sector’s position in international markets.
GST 2.0 and tax rationalisation: IMMA will seek a uniform 5% GST rate for FCO fertilizers and biostimulants, together with measures to address the inverted duty structure and enable more predictable and time-bound GST refunds.
The association will also raise broader ease-of-doing-business measures, including a review of minor and technical offences under the FCO. It is expected to advocate decriminalisation and appropriate compounding mechanisms for non-serious violations, while maintaining stringent action against serious breaches of quality and compliance requirements.
The broader objective is to establish a regulatory framework that combines strong quality standards and farmer protection with greater predictability, efficiency and room for innovation.
Senior Government and Industry Participation
The dialogue is expected to include senior officials and representatives from key government departments and agricultural institutions, including Dr PK Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Government of India; Dr Suresh Kumar Chaudhari, Director General, The Fertiliser Association of India; Dr A. Velmurugan, ADG (SWM), ICAR; Subodh Kumar, Deputy Secretary, INM-Fertilizers; and HP Singh, Consultant and Former Law Officer, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Officials and representatives from the Department of Fertilizers, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, Central Fertilizer Quality Control & Training Institute and ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, among other institutions, are also expected to participate.
Dr Rahul Mirchandani, President, Indian Micro-Fertilizers Manufacturers Association (IMMA), said: “India’s specialty fertilizer and biostimulant sector is at an important juncture, with significant potential to strengthen domestic manufacturing, drive innovation and expand India’s presence in global markets. To realise this potential, we need a regulatory environment that is predictable, science-based and responsive to innovation. This Roundtable provides an important platform to move from dialogue to practical, time-bound actions. We look forward to working closely with the Government to simplify compliance, strengthen quality frameworks and address taxation and trade-related challenges, while keeping the interests of Indian agriculture and farmers at the core.”
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