Neonicotinoids Policy in India

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 Relevance: " France’s birds start to show signs of recovery after bee-harming pesticide ban " - The Guardian

About Neonicotinoids: 
  1. Neonicotinoids are active substances used in plant protection products to control harmful insects, which means they are insecticides
  2. The name literally means "new nicotine-like insecticides". They are chemically similar to nicotine
  3. The name neonicotinoids is sometimes shortened to "neonics" or "NNIs"
  4. The first neonic was approved in the EU in 2005
  5. Neonics are systemic pesticides. Unlike contact pesticides, which remain on the surface of the treated parts of plants (e.g. leaves), systemic pesticides are taken up by the plant and transported throughout the plant (leaves, flowers, roots and stems, as well as pollen and nectar)
  6. Neonics are much more toxic to invertebrates, like insects, than they are to mammals, birds and other higher organisms
  7. Neonics affect the central nervous system of insects, leading to eventual paralysis and death
  8. They are also common in veterinary applications such as tick control and flea collars for pets
Policy on Neonicotinoids in India:
The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has established 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) across the Country. These CIPMCs, inter alia, conduct Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) to sensitize farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, and safe and judicious use of chemical pesticides as a last resort as per approved labels and leaflets. In the last three years, a total of 1971 FFSs have been organized, sensitizing 59130 farmers. In addition, Regular advisories on pest management are being shared with the States for their timely dissemination to the farmers through their extension functionaries. The State Governments through various forums such as Zonal Conferences and National Conference are requested to exhort their extension functionaries to educate and impart training to farmers on efficacious and sustainable pest management strategies and approaches.

There are 66 pesticides that are banned, restricted, withdrawn in one or more countries but continued to be registered in India. The list of such pesticides is at Annexure I. The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) has constituted an expert committee under the Chairmanship of Anupam Verma in July 2013, to review them. The Expert Committee, inter alia, recommended 13 pesticides to be completely banned, 27 pesticides to be reviewed in 2018 after completion of certain technical studies and 6 pesticides to be phased out by 2020. The Complete list is at Annexure II. Considering the recommendation of Expert Committee as accorded by the Registration Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, vide its Notification S.O. 4212(E) dated 15th December, 2016, had invited objections and suggestions from the public/stakeholders on banning/phasing out of certain pesticides. The details are at Annexure III. In response to the Notification S.O. 4212(E) dated 15th December, 2016, the Ministry has received various objections and suggestions. Keeping in view of which, a committee has been constituted to review the received objections and suggestions.

Six neonicotinoids (i.e. Imidiacloprid, Thiocloprid, Acetamiprid, Thiamethoaxane, Clothianidin & Dinotefuran) are registered with different formulations in the Country. The Anupam Verma Committee reviewed the use of neonicotinoids registered in India and made the following recommendations: 
  1. The use of neonicotinoids may not be restricted immediately 
  2. A coordinated multi institutional study needs to be launch to determine the effect of neonicotinoids on honey bees under different Agro-climatic conditions for at least a period of 2 years 
  3. Additional data on bio-efficacy and toxicological studies may also be generated in multi-location study. 
  4. The use of neonicotinoids in India may be reviewed after the findings of the multi-institutional study are available. 

  1. European Union
  2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE,  GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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