Centre seeks comments on draft Pesticides Bill, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Agriculture Ministry released the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 on Wednesday.
• The bill aims to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968, and the Insecticides Rules, 1971.
• The legislation proposes enhanced penalties for violations related to pesticides.
• Stakeholders can provide feedback until February 4, 2026.

Detailed Insights:

• The proposed bill focuses on farmer welfare and introduces several reform measures in the pesticide management system.
• It integrates digital technology to streamline processes and aims to curb the circulation of spurious pesticides through stricter controls.
• Mandatory accreditation of testing laboratories is included to ensure the quality of pesticides available to farmers.
• The bill includes provisions for compounding offenses, with State-level authorities defining enhanced penalties.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Pesticides: Substances used to control pests, including insects, weeds, and fungi, that can harm crops.
• Accreditation: The formal recognition by an independent body that a laboratory is competent to carry out specific tests.
• Compounding of offenses: A process where certain offenses can be settled by paying a penalty rather than going through a trial.