India's Punjab state banned 10 high-residue pesticides, including Carbendazim and Acephate

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare of the Indian state of Punjab has issued a notice banning the sale, distribution and use of 10 pesticides with high residues in the state from July 15, 2024, in order to protect the product quality and export trade of its specialty Basmati rice.

The 10 pesticides that were banned were Carbendazim, Buprofezin, Chlorpyrifos, Hexaconazole, Propiconazole, Thiamethoxam, Profenofos, Imidacloprid, Acephate and Tricyclazole. The State Government, in accordance with the Insecticides Act 1968 (Central Act 46/1968) and all other powers conferred upon it in this regard, has decided to prohibit the sale, distribution and use of all formulations of these insecticides in Punjab for a period of sixty days.

The decision was made due to concerns over excessive levels of pesticide residues in Basmati rice. According to the rice Exporters Association of the state, pesticide residues in many fragrant rice samples exceeded the maximum residue limit, which may affect foreign export trade.

The authorities will also monitor the sale of these pesticides at the point of delivery and encourage growers to adjust agricultural practices in a timely manner to adopt alternatives. But the pesticide association opposed the decision, fearing it would affect the sale of pesticides for other crops.