Pesticide industry calls for tighter rules on online sales

The pesticide industry has urged the Union government to tighten regulations governing the sale of crop protection products on e-commerce platforms, warning that weak compliance norms are enabling the circulation of fake and unauthorised pesticides that could harm farmers.

Industry body CropLife India said existing checks by online platforms, such as verifying GST details of sellers, are inadequate for a highly regulated and hazardous sector like pesticides. It called for mandatory enforcement of authorisation certificates and clearer accountability for digital marketplaces under the Insecticides Act, 1968, and the proposed Pesticides Management Bill.

Speaking after a national conference on pesticide sales through e-commerce, CropLife India Chairman Ankur Aggarwal said digitisation is expanding rapidly and online platforms will play a larger role in agri-input distribution. He stressed that the entire supply chain, including online intermediaries, must strictly follow regulatory norms to prevent counterfeit products from reaching farmers.

Agriculture Commissioner P K Singh also cautioned that basic documentation checks may not be sufficient when hazardous agricultural inputs are sold online. He highlighted the need for stronger quality assurance, traceability and oversight in digital sales.

Online sales currently account for less than one per cent of India’s Rs 26,000-crore pesticide market, but visibility has increased since the government permitted e-commerce sales in 2021.

The industry pointed out that current rules do not clearly define the responsibilities of e-commerce platforms, particularly regarding verification of Principal Authorisation Certificates issued by manufacturers. This regulatory gap, it said, allows listings without proper licensing or traceability.

CropLife India said some companies have issued legal notices and approached courts over unauthorised online sales, with courts directing platforms to remove certain listings. The industry reiterated its demand for immediate application of existing pesticide laws to e-commerce platforms until a new law is enacted.