On July 13, 2026, India's Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare published the Draft Banning of Paraquat Dichloride Order, 2026, proposing to comprehensively prohibit the import, manufacture, transport, distribution, sale, and use of paraquat dichloride (CAS 1910-42-5), and to cancel all registration certificates issued under the Insecticides Act, 1968. Stakeholders may submit comments and objections within 30 days of the draft's publication.
Background
On January 14, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare appointed an expert committee to review the continued use of paraquat in India, and the committee submitted its assessment report to the Central Government on June 12, 2026. Following consultation with the Registration Committee established under the Insecticides Act of 1968, the government reviewed relevant studies, data, and safety information. The Registration Committee noted that paraquat has been banned or severely restricted in over 70 countries. It recommended a comprehensive ban, citing its documented adverse health effects, ongoing poisoning incidents, fatal cases, and the absence of a specific antidote. Accordingly, the Central Government issued this draft to seek public comment before issuing the final order.
Core Provisions of the Draft
The draft mainly provides as follows:
- Prohibiting the import, manufacture, transport, distribution, sale, and use of paraquat dichloride
- All registration certificates issued under the Insecticides Act, 1968 will be cancelled and recalled
- Registration certificates must be returned within three months, and failure to do so may result in regulatory action
- After the final order is published in the Official Gazette, state governments will be responsible for its implementation and enforcement
- Existing registrations will be deemed cancelled from the date the final order takes effect
Feedback
Stakeholders may submit comments and suggestions within 30 days of the draft's publication (around August 12, 2026), after which the government will issue the final notification.
ChemRadar Insights
Paraquat is a broad-spectrum, non-selective herbicide. If the draft is formally adopted, enterprises engaged in the manufacture, import, distribution, or use of paraquat in India will be directly affected, and all existing registrations will be cancelled. Relevant enterprises are advised to closely track the progress of the draft, assess its potential impact on their product portfolios, registrations, and supply chains, and submit feedback within the 30-day comment period.
