The Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 was introduced in Rajya Sabha. It seeks to regulate the manufacture, import, sale, storage, distribution, use, and disposal of pesticides, in order to ensure the availability of safe pesticides and minimise the risk to humans, animals, and environment. The Bill seeks to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968.
Features of Pesticides Management Bill
- The bill defines a pest as any species of animal, plant, or pathogenic agent that is unwanted, or injurious to plants, humans, animals, and the environment. A pesticide is any substance of chemical or biological origin intended for preventing or destroying any pest in agriculture, industry, public health, pest control operations, or for ordinary use.
- The central government will constitute the Central Pesticides Board to advise the central and state governments on scientific and technical matters arising under the Act.
. It will advise the central government in formulating standards and best practices for pesticide manufacturers, laboratories, and pest control operators
. working conditions and training of workers
. recall and disposal of pesticides
. frame model protocols to deal with poisoning cases due to pesticides
- Persons seeking to import or manufacture a pesticide for ordinary use, agriculture, industry, pest control, or public health, are required to obtain a certificate of registration for the pesticide from the Registration Committee. The Committee will be constituted by the central government.
- The Committee will evaluate the information submitted in the application about the pesticide on factors such as safety, efficacy, necessity, end-use, risks, and availability of safer alternatives. It will not register a pesticide if the applicant submits false or misleading information, or if the maximum limits for the residue of the pesticide on crops and commodities are not specified under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- If the central government considers it necessary or expedient to secure the distribution and availability of pesticides at fair prices, it may constitute an authority to regulate their price in a manner as it may prescribe.
- The central and state governments may, by notification, prohibit the distribution, sale, or use of a pesticide or a specified batch in an area, up to a period of one year. Pesticides can be prohibited if:
. they pose a risk to, or can adversely impact human health, other living organisms, or the environment
. they pose a barrier in international trade of agriculture commodities
