Executive Summary:
This document provides the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's response to questions regarding Paraquat production, usage, safety, and regulation. It details the registration and review process for pesticides, including Paraquat Dichloride, under the Insecticides Act of 1968. The document also provides information on manufacturing units, usage, approved crops, and imports of Paraquat, with data from 2019-20 to 2023-24.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Pesticide Regulation:**
* The Registration Committee (RC), constituted under the Insecticides Act, 1968, registers pesticides after ensuring efficacy and safety.
* The Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare (DAFW) periodically reviews pesticide use based on reports from State Governments, its own initiative, or reports of bans/restrictions in other countries.
* The RC reviewed Paraquat Dichloride in its 361st meeting (22.12.2015) following the Dr. Anupam Verma Committee's recommendations and approved its continued use with caution, improved packaging, and medical personnel training.
* A sub-committee has been formed to review the safety, efficacy, and toxicity of Paraquat dichloride.
* **Paraquat Manufacturing:**
* Licenses for Paraquat manufacturing are issued to 1503 units in the country, with 35 located in Andhra Pradesh.
* A list of manufacturing units in Andhra Pradesh is provided (Annexure I).
* **Paraquat Usage:**
* Details of Paraquat usage in the country from 2019-20 to 2023-24 are included (Annexure II).
* Approved crops for Paraquat usage are listed (Annexure III). The approved crops are: Tea, Potato, Cotton, Rubber, Coffee, Rice, Wheat, Maize, Grapes, Apple, Aquatic Weed Control, Water ways Canals, Ponds Etc.
* **Paraquat Imports:**
* Paraquat import details from 2019-20 to 2023-24 are provided (Annexure IV).
* **Data Availability:**
* Details of annual Paraquat production and sales are not maintained at the Ministry level.
Impact Analysis:
* **Paraquat Manufacturers:**
* Impact: Must adhere to regulations regarding safe manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of Paraquat.
* Action Required: Review current practices to align with caution guidelines, improve packaging, and support training initiatives for medical personnel.
* **State Governments:**
* Impact: Responsible for reporting on pesticide use and any adverse effects.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor and report on Paraquat usage, and any related health or environmental concerns.
* **Farmers/Agricultural Workers:**
* Impact: Directly affected by the availability and safety of Paraquat.
* Action Required: Follow safety guidelines and training related to Paraquat use, handling, and application.
* **Medical Personnel:**
* Impact: Responsible for treating Paraquat poisoning cases.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs to effectively handle Paraquat poisoning cases.
Key Entities Referenced
Paraquat: A widely used herbicide, the policy document discusses its production, usage, safety, and regulation.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India with a significant number of Paraquat manufacturing units.
Insecticides Act, 1968: Indian legislation under which pesticides are registered and regulated.
Registration Committee RC: Committee constituted under section 5 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 responsible for registering pesticides in India.
Dr. Anupam Verma Committee: A committee that reviewed 66 pesticides including Paraquat Dichloride.
Paraquat Dichloride: The specific chemical formulation of Paraquat that is the subject of the policy discussion.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The Indian government department responsible for policies related to agriculture and farmers' welfare.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who answered the question regarding Paraquat.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2542
TO BE ANSWERED ON 5TH AUGUST, 2025
PRODUCTION OF PARAQUAT
2542. SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI:
SHRI BASTIPATI NAGARAJU:
SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI:
SHRI MOHIBBULLAH:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be
pleased to state:-
(a) the details of the annual production of Paraquat and the number of manufacturing units,
classified, State-wise especially in AP;
(b) the details of Paraquat usage in the country over the last five years, year and State-wise,
especially in AP;
(c) the details of the list of crops approved for usage of Paraquat by the Government in a
State-wise, especially in AP;
(d) the details of the total sales of Paraquat in the last five years, year and company-wise
(private and public);
(e) whether the Government has reviewed the safety, environmental and health impacts of
Paraquat use, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(f) the amount and value of Paraquat imports during the last five years, including source
countries, year-wise; and
(g) whether there is any proposal to regulate, restrict or ban Paraquat due to its reported
toxicity and fatalities, if so, the details thereof alongwith regulatory steps or alternatives
under consideration?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (g): Registration Committee (RC) constituted under section 5 of the Insecticides Act,
1968 registers pesticides for use in the country after ensuring the efficacy and safety to
prevent risk to human beings or animals and for matters connected therewith. Department of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) periodically reviews the continued use of pesticides
either on the basis of report received from the State Governments, suo moto or reports about
the pesticides that are banned or restricted in other countries due to toxic concerns or
potential harm to human health or the environment.
Further, Registration Committee (RC) in its 361st RC meeting held on 22.12.2015,
deliberated the recommendations of Dr. Anupam Verma Committee to review 66 pesticides
including Paraquat Dichloride which are currently banned/restricted/ withdrawn in other
countries, and accepted its continued use with caution, improved packaging to prevent
misuse, and training for medical personnel to handle poisoning cases. Further, a sub-
committee has been constituted on the directions of Government of India to review the safety,
efficacy and toxicity of Paraquat dichloride.
At present, License for manufacturing of Paraquat is issued to 1503 manufacturing
units in the country and out of which 35 are situated in State of Andhra Pradesh. The details of
manufacturing units in the State of Andhra Pradesh are enclosed at Annexure-I. The details
of Paraquat usage in the country during 2019-20 to 2023-24 in the country is enclosed at
Annexure-II, the details of Crops approved for usage of Paraquat is enclosed at Annexure-III
and imports of Paraquat from 2019-20 to 2023-24 are placed at Annexure-IV. However,
details of annual production and sales of Paraquat are not maintained at the Ministry level.Annexure-I
The Details of manufacturing units of Paraquat in the state of Andhra Prdesh:
S.N. List of Manufacturing units of Paraquat Dichloride in Andhra Pradesh
1 Vasishta Pesticides Pvt Ltd
2 M/s Snochem India
3 Deacons Bio Product Private Limited
4 M/s APL Agro Chemicals
5 M/s Adonis Crop Sciences Private Limited
6 PNR Industries
7 N G Fertilizers and Chemicals Pvt Ltd
8 Omkar Fertilisers Pvt.Ltd.
9 Avento Agro Chemicals
10 Prevents Chem India Private Limited
11 Star Crop Agrochemicals
12 Krysta Crop Solutions Private Limited
13 Elaine Crop Care India Private Limited
14 SMR Agro Nutrients Private Limited
15 Asian Crop Care
16 Sovereign Agri Industries
17 M/s. Jhass Agro Industries
18 Hindustan Agro Insecticides
19 Exce Fine Chemicals
20 Miracle Crop Science
21 Hi Tech Pharma
22 Gautami Chemicals and Pesticides private Limited
23 Idhyah Agri Crop Sciences Pvt. Limited
24 Kissan Agri Technology
25 M/s Kemicides Crop Protection Company
26 Devatha Agrofarms LLP
27 Bhairav Agri Science Private Limited
28 Agrovero Crop Science Private Lmited
29 M/s Vasishta Pesticides Pvt Ltd
30 M/s Southern Pest Control
31 M/S S.L Industries
32 BHL Rasayan Udyog India Pvt. Limited
33 Terra Chemicals Co.
34 Kissan Bio Formulations
35 Lotus BiotechAnnexure-II
The Details of Paraquat usage in the country during 2019-20 to 2023-24:
Pesticides 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
Paraquat Dichloride
(Consumption in metric 113.18 74.49 104.97 97.69 105.06
tons)Annexure-III
The Details of the list of crops approved for usage of Paraquat:
S. No. Name of Crops
1 Tea
2 Potato
3 Cotton
4 Rubber
5 Coffee
6 Rice
7 Wheat
8 Maize
9 Grapes
10 Apple
11 Aquatic Weed Control, Water ways Canals, Ponds Etc.Annexure-IV
The Details of Paraquat imports during 2019-20 to 2023-24:
Pesticides Group 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
Paraquat Dichloride
(Import in Metric Tonne) Herbicides 8598 14436 15272 20786 Not
available
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