India Bans Four Pesticides, Including Controversial Pesticide Monocrotophos

On October 6, 2023, India published the Insecticides (Prohibition) Order, 2023 to ban four highly hazardous pesticides, which are Dicofol, Dinocap, Methomyl and Monocrotophos. The Order comes into effect immediately on the date of publication.

Contents of the Order

Dicofol, Dinocap, and Methomyl are subject to an immediate ban on their sale, distribution, and use. However, the Order provides a one-year transitional period for Monocrotophos. This transitional period aims to allow farmers to adopt alternatives and prevent them from suffering sharp losses due to the ineffectiveness of pest control solutions for specific crops. The details of the decision regarding these pesticides are outlined in the table below.

Insecticides	Decision
Dicofol	All the certificates of registration granted shall be cancelled. The sale, distribution or use of the pesticide is prohibited.
Dinocap	All the certificates of registration granted shall be cancelled. The sale, distribution or use of the pesticide is prohibited.
Methomyl	All the certificates of registration granted shall be cancelled. The sale, distribution or use of the pesticide is prohibited.
Monocrotophos	1) The use of Monocrotophos 36% Soluble Liquid (SL) formulation is to be discontinued. No new certificate of registration for its manufacture shall be issued. 2) The label claims for other formulations of Monocrotophos may be extended in one year period. 3) After this period, all the certificates of registration of Monocrotophos 36% SL will be cancelled. Sale, distribution and use of Monocrotophos 36% SL shall be allowed only for clearance of existing stock till its expiry period.

However, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India, an independent national non-profit organisation, has expressed concerns about the ambiguity in the language of point 3 regarding Monocrotophos. PAN India argues that a specific line banning the manufacture of Monocrotophos (in all its formulations) is necessary to ensure clarity and prevent its continued use beyond the one-year period even if the stocks are uncleared yet.

Additionally, India omits the approved use of label claims for seven other insecticides on specific crops. This means that these insecticides are now banned for usage on the crops listed in the original registration. Pesticide manufacturers and marketers must update their labels to reflect the crops on which these insecticides can be used. The details are outlined in the table below.

Insecticides	Crops to be omitted from approved usage
Carbofuran	All other formulations of Carbofuran except Carbofuran three percent Encapsulated granule (CG) along with the crop labels may be stopped from use.
Malathion	Sorghum, Pea, Soybean, Castor, Sunflower, Bhindi, Brinjal, Cauliflower, Radish, Turnip, Tomato, Apple, Mango and Grape.
Quinalphos	Jute, Cardamom and Sorghum.
Mancozeb	Guava, Jowar and Tapioca.
Oxyfluorfen	Potato and Groundnut.
Dimethoate	Label deletion of fruits and vegetables that are consumed as raw food items.
Chlorpyriphos	Ber, Citrus and Tobacco.

The Controversial Monocrotophos

Monocrotophos is an organophosphorus pesticide classified as highly hazardous by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). It has been implicated in several cases of pesticide poisoning in India, including the infamous Yavatmal pesticide poisoning incident in 2017 and the free school lunch pesticide poisoning case in 2013. Moreover, Monocrotophos has been frequently misused as a means of suicide.

In 2005, Monocrotophos was banned for use on vegetables. However, enforcement of this restriction was limited. Over the years, despite its hazards, India has allowed the production and use of Monocrotophos on crops such as cotton, maize, sugarcane, coconut, and coffee due to its lower cost and higher efficacy in pest control. India believed that the benefits of using this strong pesticide outweighed the risks if it was properly managed. However, in 2023, Monocrotophos has finally been banned in India, albeit with a transitional period.

India's Efforts in Pesticide Regulation

In 2013, India constituted an Expert Committee to review 66 insecticides that were banned, restricted, or withdrawn in other countries but still registered for domestic use in India.

On May 14, 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture in India proposed a draft order for banning 27 pesticides. The Ministry recognized that the use of these 27 insecticides posed risks to humans and animals, necessitating immediate action.

The 27 pesticides are shown in the table below. The banned four pesticides are marked in red and the restricted seven pesticides are marked in orange.

Acephate	Atrazine	Benfuracarb	Butachlor	Captan	Carbendazim	Carbofuran
Chlorpyriphos	2,4-D	Deltamethrin	Dicofol	Dimethoate	Dinocap	Diuron
Malathion	Mancozeb	Methomyl	Monocrotophos	Oxyfluorfen	Pendimethalin	Quinalphos
Sulfosulfuron	Thiodicarb	Thiophanate Methyl	Thiram	Zineb	Ziram	/

However, the draft Order has faced challenges from the Indian agrochemical industry, as these products constitute a significant portion of pesticide sales in both domestic and overseas markets. The future regulatory changes regarding the draft ban Order will depend on various factors, including the impact on business and related concerns.

India's ban on the pesticides demonstrates the country's commitment to pesticide regulation as well as human health and environment protection. The ban contributes to the ongoing efforts to promote safer and more sustainable agricultural practices in India.