Reference source : Gazette of India
On 13 July 2026, India's Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare published the Draft Banning of Paraquat Dichloride Order, 2026, which proposes prohibiting the import, manufacture, transport, distribution, sale and use of paraquat dichloride (CAS No. 1910-42-5). Interested parties have 30 days from the publication of the draft order to submit comments and objections before it is finalized. This follows similar regulatory steps taken by numerous other countries, including Australia, and demonstrate growing global concern regarding the potential hazards to human health posed by this active substance.
Background
On 14 January 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, through the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, appointed an Expert Committee to assess the continued use of paraquat dichloride in India. The Committee submitted its report to the Central Government on 12 June 2026, following a detailed scientific review.
Following consultations with the Registration Committee established under the Insecticides Act of 1968, the government reviewed the available studies, data, and safety information. The Registration Committee noted that paraquat dichloride has been prohibited or severely restricted in over 70 countries, citing documented adverse health effects, continued poisoning incidents, reported fatalities and the absence of a specific antidote as the reasons for recommending a complete ban.
The Registration Committee recommended prohibiting the manufacture, import, transport, distribution, sale, and use of paraquat dichloride in India. As a result, the Central Government has published the Draft Banning of Paraquat Dichloride Order, 2026, inviting comments and objections for 30 days prior to releasing the final notification.
Key Provisions of the Draft Order
Prohibits the import, manufacture, transport, distribution, sale and use of paraquat dichloride.
All registration certificates issued under the 1968 Insecticides Act will be cancelled and recalled.
Failure to return registration certificates within three months may result in regulatory action.
State governments will implement and enforce the ban after it is published in the Official Gazette.
Existing registrations will be deemed cancelled from the date the final order takes effect.
Industry Impact
If adopted, the draft order will prohibit all activities involving paraquat dichloride in India and cancel all existing registrations for the substance. Companies that manufacture, import, distribute, or use paraquat dichloride should closely monitor the progress of the draft notification and consider its potential impact on product portfolios, registrations, and supply chains.