CCFI Opposes Data Protection for Agrochemicals, Says It Could Raise Costs for Indian Farmers

Indian manufacturers argue that delayed introduction of patented molecules, rather than lack of data protection, is the key issue and warn that additional exclusivity could weaken generic manufacturing

01 October 2026, New Delhi: The Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) has opposed the introduction of data protection for agrochemicals, arguing that the policy could delay the availability of affordable crop protection products and weaken India’s domestic manufacturing advantage.

Speaking at the 63rd Annual General Meeting of the Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI), Chairman Deepak Shah, said the debate needs to be viewed in the context of the timing of new molecule introductions in India. According to him, patented crop protection products are often introduced in India much later than in other markets. 

If additional data protection is provided when a product is introduced late in the country, Indian manufacturers could have very limited time to enter the market with generic versions after patent expiry.

Shah said Indian manufacturers have the technology and capacity to produce high-quality crop protection products at significantly lower costs. He pointed out that after patent expiry, manufacturing a molecule in India can bring production costs down to around one-third or one-fourth of the earlier cost, creating a direct cost advantage for farmers.

“If data protection is provided when a company introduces the product late in India, farmers lose out on the cost benefit that comes from competitive domestic manufacturing,” Shah said.

He added that data protection could leave Indian companies with limited market viability when they register molecules, reducing their commercial potential and weakening India’s competitive position in agrochemical manufacturing. CCFI estimates the country’s agrochemical manufacturing infrastructure at around ₹45,000 crore.

CCFI questions the need for additional exclusivity

Rajesh Aggarwal, Vice Chairman, CCFI said Indian manufacturers are increasingly investing in research and developing cost-effective crop protection products for Indian farmers. He questioned why companies developing new molecules do not register them in India while the products are still under patent protection.

“When companies invent new molecules, they generate data for the whole world. Then why do they not register these molecules in India when they are under patent?” Aggarwal asked.

He said data protection could restrict the number of products available to farmers by delaying generic competition. According to Agrawal, India’s growing research and manufacturing base demonstrates that the domestic industry can develop and supply effective crop protection products without an additional period of exclusivity.

CCFI also points to India’s recent registration record as evidence against the argument that the absence of data protection is preventing new products from entering the country. The federation says 36 new pesticide molecules were registered in India over the last two years, which it describes as a record.

Aggarwal said the industry’s current registration system is already addressing emerging pest and disease challenges and that introducing data protection would be “retrograde” and contrary to the government’s Make in India objectives.

Implications for India’s generic agrochemical industry

CCFI argues that India’s strength lies significantly in the production of high-quality generic, post-patent molecules. Aggarwal noted that around 90% of the global agrochemical market comprises generic products and said Indian manufacturers have demonstrated their ability to compete in this segment internationally.

He also cited the 2021 report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, which, according to CCFI, considered the existing 20-year patent period a substantial period of monopoly and cautioned against encouraging longer protection for technologies.

The federation’s position is that additional data protection could undermine the competitive advantage created by India’s generic manufacturing ecosystem, potentially affecting both domestic farmers and India’s position in global agrochemical markets.

CCFI therefore maintains that the policy focus should remain on timely registration and introduction of new molecules, while preserving competition and India’s ability to manufacture affordable post-patent products.

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