Everything You Need to Know About India’s Pesticides Management Bill, 2025
08 January 2026, New Delhi: The Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 represents one of the most significant reforms in India’s agri-input regulatory framework in more than five decades. Intended to replace the long-standing Insecticides Act, 1968, the proposed law seeks to respond to present-day challenges in agriculture, public health, environmental protection, and global trade, while also aligning regulation with digital governance and ease-of-doing-business reforms.
At its core, the Bill aims to ensure that Indian farmers have access to safe, effective, and quality pesticides, while simultaneously reducing risks to human health, animals, beneficial organisms such as honey bees, and the environment.
Why the Bill Matters
India is one of the world’s largest users and producers of pesticides. However, regulatory gaps, outdated procedures, weak surveillance, and limited accountability mechanisms under the existing law have often been flagged by experts, courts, and civil society. The new Bill formally declares that it is in the public interest for the Union Government to exercise control over pesticide regulation, recognising its national importance for food safety, environmental protection, and farmer welfare.
The proposed legislation also reflects a clear policy shift—moving away from a purely control-based law to a risk-based, science-driven and digitally administered system.
What the Bill Covers
The Bill regulates the entire lifecycle of pesticides, including their manufacture, import, formulation, packaging, labelling, storage, advertisement, sale, transport, distribution, use, recall, and disposal. Its scope extends beyond agriculture to include pesticides used in public health, industry, storage, pest control operations, and households.
Importantly, the law places equal emphasis on environmental safety and occupational health, making pesticide management not just an agricultural issue but a public health priority.
A Modern, Risk-Based Approach
Unlike the earlier law, the new Bill introduces a structured definition of risk, linking it to both the inherent toxicity of a pesticide and the extent of exposure. This allows regulators to take precautionary action where scientific uncertainty exists, particularly when there is a threat of serious or irreversible damage to health or the environment.
The Bill also encourages the promotion of biological pesticides, traditional knowledge-based solutions, integrated pest management (IPM), and indigenous manufacturing, signalling a gradual move towards sustainability.
Central Pesticides Board: The Policy Backbone
A key institutional pillar of the Bill is the Central Pesticides Board, to be constituted within six months of the Act’s commencement. The Board will act as the government’s primary advisory body on pesticide-related scientific, technical, and regulatory matters.
Its responsibilities include advising on good manufacturing practices, advertising standards, disposal norms, worker safety, recall procedures, and training standards. The Board will also monitor pesticide residues, global regulatory developments, poisoning incidents, and research safer alternatives to existing pesticides.
Notably, the Board’s composition brings together representatives from agriculture, health, environment, labour, science, and state governments, along with independent experts and farmer representatives—ensuring multi-sectoral oversight.
Registration Committee: The Gatekeeper of the Market
No pesticide can be imported or manufactured in India without registration. The Registration Committee, another central institution under the Bill, is tasked with evaluating applications based on safety, efficacy, necessity, and end-use.
All applications must be filed digitally. The Committee has the authority to demand additional data, order independent tests, consult experts, and even refuse registration where scientific uncertainty exists. Importantly, it must record reasons for every approval or rejection and make them publicly available—introducing a new level of transparency.
For generic pesticides, the Bill introduces a time-bound approval mechanism. If a complete application is not decided within 18 months, registration is deemed to have been granted, reducing regulatory delays.
Strong Review, Suspension, and Ban Powers
The Bill empowers authorities to review registered pesticides at any time, especially if new evidence emerges regarding health or environmental risks. Registrations can be suspended or cancelled for violations, false disclosures, or failure to obtain manufacturing or sales licences within prescribed timelines.
In urgent public interest situations, the Central or State Government can immediately prohibit the sale, distribution, or use of a pesticide for up to one year, pending a detailed scientific review. If risks outweigh benefits, the pesticide can be permanently banned.
Licensing and State-Level Enforcement
Manufacture, sale, distribution, stocking, transport, and pest control operations require licences issued by State Governments through designated Licensing Officers. The Bill mandates digital licensing, regular inspections, and clear timelines for approval or rejection.
States are required to maintain digital databases of licences, sales, stock positions, and infrastructure, and to submit periodic reports to the Centre—strengthening traceability and enforcement.
Surveillance, Laboratories, and Inspectors
The Bill creates a robust surveillance framework, backed by:
- A Central Pesticides Laboratory
- Accredited Pesticide Testing Laboratories, including private labs with strict conflict-of-interest rules
- Empowered Pesticide Inspectors and Analysts with search, seizure, sampling, and enforcement powers
Clear procedures are laid down for sampling, testing, reporting, and dispute resolution, ensuring scientific credibility and legal certainty.
Offences, Penalties, and Decriminalisation Balance
While the Bill promotes ease of living and doing business, it also introduces stringent penalties for serious violations. These include:
- Heavy fines for misbranding, false claims, and illegal sales
- Imprisonment of up to five years where violations result in death or grievous harm
- Confiscation of pesticide stocks and public disclosure of offenders
At the same time, minor offences are largely dealt with through monetary penalties and compounding, reducing unnecessary criminalisation.
What Happens to the Old Law
Once enacted, the Pesticides Management Act will repeal the Insecticides Act, 1968, while protecting actions already taken under the old law. Existing licences will continue until expiry, after which fresh licences must comply with the new framework.
The Big Picture
The Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 signals a decisive shift in India’s approach—from a legacy regulatory model to a science-led, transparent, and digitally driven pesticide governance system. For farmers, it promises safer products and clearer accountability. For industry, it offers predictability and time-bound approvals. For consumers and the environment, it strengthens protection against harmful and substandard pesticides.
Also Read: Government Of India Invites Public Comments on Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025
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
