The Ministry of Agriculture has proposed to ban (import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribute and use) 27 pesticides (12 insecticides, 7 herbicides and 8 fungicides) which the ministry believe are likely to involve risk to human being and animals.

Out of these products few are banned, restricted or withdrawn for use in other countries but currently are registered for domestic use in India. These molecules command significant share of consumption in India and the domestic companies also have global competitiveness in most of these chemistries.

As per Meghmani Organics Limited, the proposed ban on 27 pesticides by the Ministry of Agriculture would affect products 2, 4-D and Chlorpyriphos.

The revenue contribution of these products in the FY2019-20 was around 12-15% and 80-85% of the revenue is from exports. Since the company has planned expansion in this product category, the revenue is expected to go up to 20% post capex in the coming years.

The entire agrochemical industry is painfully surprised with this unilateral notification which not only has jeopardised the industry economics but is against the government's own initiative of Make in India. The industry has been studying this notification and is submitting every possible data point to ensure that the said notification is nullified in its effect. The industry is also in the process of preparing convincing representations besides the legal recourse to challenge the said unilateral notification.

The insecticides are Diuron, Malathion, Mancozeb, Methomyl, Monocrotophos, Oxyfluorfen, Pendimethalin, Quinalphos, Sulfosulfuron, Thiodicarb, Thiophanate-methyl, Thiram, Ziram, Zineb, Acephate, Atrazine, Benfuracarb, Butachlor, Captan, Carbendazim, Carbofuran, Chlorpyriphos, 2,4-D, Deltamethrin, Dicofol, Dimethoate, Dinocap.