The Union Government has published a draft notification proposing a complete ban on the production, import, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of parathion dichloride. The reason for this decision is concerns regarding risks to human and animal health, as reported by Kisan Tak on Tuesday.
The draft, titled 'Order Banning Parathion Dichloride, 2026,' was issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and published in the Gazette of India on July 13. It will be open for public comments for 30 days before a final decision is made. Submissions can be sent to the Deputy Secretary for Plant Protection at the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, located at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi.
Parathion dichloride is one of the most controversial herbicides globally and has been banned in approximately 70 countries due to its toxic properties. Despite this, it continued to be used in India for weed control. The center proposed a complete ban on its use in Indian fields, citing Section 27 of the Insecticides Act of 1968.
If the proposed order is approved, India will join the growing number of countries that have either banned or imposed significant restrictions on parathion dichloride. According to an India Today report, this is not the first attempt to ban the herbicide. Previously, some states had restricted its use, but such actions in other regions faced legal or technical hurdles. Nevertheless, the draft notification from Tuesday supersedes state-level restrictions as it will apply nationwide. If the rules come into force, individuals holding licenses for the production or distribution of this insecticide will have three months to surrender these licenses to the government.
