Exclude Data Protection from Pesticides Management Bill 2025: PMFAI Requests Govt of India

28 April 2026, New Delhi: The Pesticides Manufacturers & Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) has submitted a detailed representation to Agriculture Minister of India Shivraj Singh Chouhan, urging the government not to include any provision for Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) for agrochemicals in the proposed Pesticides Management Bill 2025 (PMB 2025). 

PMFAI, represented by its President Pradip Dave, said the issue of data protection for agrochemicals has already been examined by multiple ministries over the past 16 years, with earlier recommendations reportedly not supporting such a move. The association added that despite objections and observations made during Parliamentary Standing Committee deliberations, multinational corporations and importers continue to seek a five-year exclusivity period beyond the existing patent term. 

Concerns Over Impact on Farmers and Domestic Industry

According to PMFAI, patents already provide innovators with 20 years of protection, and any additional exclusivity would mainly affect farmers and domestic manufacturers. The association said the demand is linked to off-patent molecules that have completed or are nearing the end of their patent life. It described Regulatory Data Protection as a TRIPS-plus measure that could delay the entry of affordable generic pesticides into the Indian market. 

PMFAI emphasized that Indian agriculture is largely dependent on small landholding farmers with 1 to 5 acres of land, making affordability, accessibility and timely availability of crop protection products critical for farm productivity and livelihoods. It warned that extending protection beyond patents would deprive farmers of lower-cost alternatives, restrict competition and prevent Indian MSMEs from entering the market with generic versions. The association also noted that the commercial life of a pesticide is around 30 to 35 years, and extending exclusivity beyond the patent period would leave little room for generic competition. 

India’s Growth, Innovation and Policy Direction

PMFAI also questioned whether additional protections are necessary, citing continued innovation and market growth in India. It claimed that for every ten patents granted since 2010 to western multinational companies for new pesticide molecules, six were not commercially introduced in India despite launches in other countries. It further alleged that some of these companies are now seeking exclusivity for older off-patent products. 

Highlighting recent developments, the association said 36 new pesticide molecules were registered in India over the last two years, averaging around 1.5 new molecules per month. It added that India has become the world’s third-largest exporter of agrochemicals, up from fifth place a decade ago, and argued that policy should focus on strengthening domestic manufacturing and exports. PMFAI further stated that around 90% of the global agrochemical market consists of generics and that the top-selling agrochemicals worldwide are generic products. 

Appeal to the Government

Referring to earlier Parliamentary Standing Committee discussions on the Pesticides Management Bill 2020, PMFAI said the committee had concluded that the existing 20-year patent period is sufficient for innovators to recover investments and had not accepted data protection for agrochemicals. The association also maintained that India’s large and growing agricultural market is capable of attracting both domestic and foreign innovation even without such provisions. 

Also Read: India Left Behind in Agrochemical Innovation Due to No Data Protection: CropLife India

Global Agriculture is an independent international media platform covering agri-business, policy, technology, and sustainability. For editorial collaborations, thought leadership, and strategic communications, write to pr@global-agriculture.com