<div><p>After the farm laws, the fertiliser industry has raised a red flag over the Pesticides Amendment Bill, contending that in its existing form the draft legislation could hit exports and harm research.</p><p>The Bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament, seeks to replace the 52-year-old Insecticides Act and was expected to reform the sector.</p><p>“However, the PMB, in present shape, is a big disappointment… rather it will bring back inspector raj,” Ajit Kumar, Chairman of the technical committee of the Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) said.</p><p>Kumar said the Bill seeks to criminalise all offences with the threat of arrest and a jail term for the manufacturers.</p><p>A 15-point note prepared by the CCFI states that Section 52 of the Bill seeks to issue summonses to Directors of a company for the very first instance of offence, treating wealth creators as criminals.</p><p>Kumar said the Bill also sought to criminalise all offences contrary to the government’s stated commitment to decriminalise laws.</p><p>Offences should be decriminalised and made into civil in nature in line with Section 554 of the Companies Act, 2013,” he said.</p><p>Kumar said the industry was also concerned about a provision that seeks to prohibit exports of products banned in India.</p><p>“Every country bans or allows the use of products depending on the local situation. However, to stop export of the same product does not make sense,” he said.</p><p>The industry has also objected to the provision that allowed the government to control the prices of pesticides.</p><p>“Provision for price control will be a major deterrent in introduction of new products, farmer’s training, demonstrations for safe and effective usage,” Kumar said.</p><p>Further, Kumar said the bill provides for import of formulations which would kill the Indian industry and does not give a level playing field.</p><p>Kumar also wanted the government to strike off a provision regarding the sale of certain pesticides through 'prescription' saying this would hamper the availability of pesticides to farmers.</p></div>
<div><p>After the farm laws, the fertiliser industry has raised a red flag over the Pesticides Amendment Bill, contending that in its existing form the draft legislation could hit exports and harm research.</p><p>The Bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament, seeks to replace the 52-year-old Insecticides Act and was expected to reform the sector.</p><p>“However, the PMB, in present shape, is a big disappointment… rather it will bring back inspector raj,” Ajit Kumar, Chairman of the technical committee of the Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) said.</p><p>Kumar said the Bill seeks to criminalise all offences with the threat of arrest and a jail term for the manufacturers.</p><p>A 15-point note prepared by the CCFI states that Section 52 of the Bill seeks to issue summonses to Directors of a company for the very first instance of offence, treating wealth creators as criminals.</p><p>Kumar said the Bill also sought to criminalise all offences contrary to the government’s stated commitment to decriminalise laws.</p><p>Offences should be decriminalised and made into civil in nature in line with Section 554 of the Companies Act, 2013,” he said.</p><p>Kumar said the industry was also concerned about a provision that seeks to prohibit exports of products banned in India.</p><p>“Every country bans or allows the use of products depending on the local situation. However, to stop export of the same product does not make sense,” he said.</p><p>The industry has also objected to the provision that allowed the government to control the prices of pesticides.</p><p>“Provision for price control will be a major deterrent in introduction of new products, farmer’s training, demonstrations for safe and effective usage,” Kumar said.</p><p>Further, Kumar said the bill provides for import of formulations which would kill the Indian industry and does not give a level playing field.</p><p>Kumar also wanted the government to strike off a provision regarding the sale of certain pesticides through 'prescription' saying this would hamper the availability of pesticides to farmers.</p></div>
