Withdrawal of Biostimulant Approvals
The Union Agriculture Ministry has withdrawn approval for the sale of 11 biostimulants derived from animal sources, citing concerns over "religious and dietary restrictions".
Background and Reasons for Withdrawal
- The decision follows complaints from the Hindu and Jain communities.
- Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms that enhance plant processes, unlike fertilizers and pesticides.
- The Indian biostimulants market was valued at US$ 355.53 million in 2024 and projected to grow to US$ 1,135.96 million by 2032.
- Major producers in India include Coromandel International, Syngenta, and Godrej Agrovet.
Details of the Affected Biostimulants
- The decision affects protein hydrolysate biostimulants derived from animal sources like chicken feathers, pig tissue, bovine hide, and cod scales.
- These are used for crops such as green gram, tomato, chilli, cotton, and others.
Regulatory and Ethical Considerations
- The withdrawal is part of efforts to regulate the biostimulant sector under the Fertiliser (Control) Order (FCO), 1985.
- Previously, biostimulants were sold without specific regulations for over a decade until 2021 when registration for safety and effectiveness became mandatory.
- ICAR has withheld permission for animal-based biostimulants to avoid ethical conflicts and requires pre-harvest interval data for foliar sprays.
Current Market and Regulatory Impact
- Approximately 30,000 biostimulant products were sold unchecked, which reduced to around 650 after stricter checks were enforced.
- Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized the importance of regulating to manage the proliferation of unregulated biostimulants.
