PMFAI’s 57th AGM Highlights Industry Transformation, Export Priorities and Key Regulatory Milestones
09 December 2025, Mumbai: The Pesticides Manufacturers & Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) held its 57th Annual General Meeting and Industry Meet last week in Mumbai, bringing together senior executives from the agrochemical, biologicals and allied sectors to review industry developments and emerging global shifts.
Industry Transformation and Export Priorities
PMFAI President Pradip Dave mentioned that the Indian agrochemical industry is undergoing a period of structural change. Climate-linked variations in pest behaviour and crop patterns are reshaping domestic needs, while global factors such as inventory destocking, weak demand in key markets and price competition from China have contributed to a decline in India’s exports over the past year.
He emphasised that strengthening indigenous manufacturing of technical-grade pesticides and intermediates is central to ensuring long-term stability. A number of companies have already intensified their efforts toward backward integration to reduce reliance on imported inputs.
Dave added that India’s future growth depends on expanding its reach in major export destinations including the United States, Brazil, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa, where demand for affordable crop protection solutions continues to rise.
Patent Case Insights and Implications for Generics
A detailed legal presentation by Advocate Ashish Kothari and Legal Consultant Isha Tyagi examined the Natco Pharma vs. Roche AG case involving the SMA drug Risdiplam. The speakers explained how the Delhi High Court found merit in Natco’s arguments related to lack of inventive step and the existence of Roche’s earlier genus patent.
The decision is seen as an important development for both pharmaceutical and agrochemical manufacturers in India, as it reinforces the legal position against patent evergreening and supports the timely entry of generic products.
Australian Market Trends and Opportunities for India
Dr. Bill Crabtree, General Manager of 4Farmers Australia, presented an overview of Australian agriculture, including the adoption of no-tillage systems and the structure of its agrochemical market. He described how herbicides remain the largest contributor to crop protection use, followed by fungicides and insecticides.
Crabtree also explained the regulatory landscape under the APVMA, outlining registration timelines and compliance expectations. He noted a growing acceptance of Indian agrochemical suppliers in Australia, driven by consistent quality, competitive pricing, reliable supply chains and ease of communication.
PMFAI’s Ongoing Regulatory Contributions
In a session on PMFAI’s institutional impact, Advisor Dr. Sandeep Singh outlined major achievements that have shaped the sector. He described the organisation’s continued defence of Section 9(4) registrations, which has supported the rise of Indian MSMEs and helped position India as one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of agrochemicals.
He also referred to the long-running Gujarat High Court case that resulted in guidelines promoting Technical Indigenous Manufacturing before permitting formulation imports. Singh highlighted PMFAI’s interventions on the proposed ban of 27 pesticides, which ultimately narrowed the restrictions to four products, as well as the association’s role during deliberations on the Pesticide Management Bill 2020, where the government decided against introducing Regulatory Data Protection and retained the requirement for technical registration.
Singh further noted PMFAI’s engagement at global conventions to protect the availability of key molecules, its coordination with central ministries during COVID-19 to ensure uninterrupted agrochemical production, and ongoing work with CPCB and MoEFCC on updated environmental and effluent norms. He added that PMFAI continues to support companies through its regulatory help desk.
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