Easier Norms To Spur Export Of Pesticides

The Pesticides Association of India (PAI) has expressed the hope that the export of pesticides would rise perceptibly, thanks to rationalisation of export registration procedures.

The industry was already exporting products worth Rs 700 crore a year, against the annual imports of only Rs 120 crore, PAI chairman Salil Singhal told the association's 35th annual general meeting here yesterday.

He, however, expressed regrets over "arbitrary" implementation of the Insecticides Act and various rules by state governments, causing unnecessary harassment to the industry.

Many states, specially in the north, were overstepping their authority to elicit information, affidavits and undertakings from pesticides companies.

At times, they resort to arbitrarily banning the sale of certain products, he said.

"While responsible companies are being harassed, the fly-by-night operators are getting away scot-free and continue to cheat the poor farmers," Singhal said. He urged the government to resolve the problem regarding mistaken classification of technical grade pesticides as "organic and inorganic chemicals".