The Indian government on Tuesday issued a draft order proposing a blanket ban on Paraquat Dichloride, according to a report by The Hindu BusinessLine (AGRI_TIO). The draft notification, issued by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, seeks to halt the manufacture, import, sale, and distribution of the widely used herbicide, citing its severe toxicity to humans and animals. Stakeholders have 30 days to submit feedback before the final ban is published in the Official Gazette.
Expert Committee and Registration Committee Recommendations
The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare constituted an Expert Committee in January to examine the continued use of Paraquat Dichloride in India. After detailed examination, the panel submitted its report on June 12, AGRI_TIO reported. BusinessLine reported in May that the panel unanimously agreed to recommend a nationwide ban on Paraquat. Acting on the expert panel’s suggestions, the Registration Committee, headed by Agriculture Commissioner P K Singh, on June 29 submitted its views identifying several areas of concern: documented adverse health effects, a continued history of poisoning incidents, reported high fatalities, and the absence of a specific antidote, among others. The Registration Committee recommended a complete prohibition of Paraquat Dichloride in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968.
Government Action and State Pressure
After duly considering the report of the Registration Committee, the Central government is satisfied that “the use of Paraquat Dichloride insecticide is likely to involve risk to human being and animals as to render it expedient or necessary to take immediate action,” according to the draft order. The ban “shall come into force on the date of its final publication in the Official Gazette” after which no person shall be allowed to import, manufacture, sell, transport, distribute, or use Paraquat Dichloride. The Registration Committee will also call back the certificates of registration granted for Paraquat Dichloride from all manufacturers; the certificates shall be deemed cancelled from the date of final publication.
The Centre’s move, though very slow, comes amid growing pressure from states such as Telangana and Odisha, which have already imposed temporary restrictions and sought permanent intervention by the Centre. Telangana had banned the sale, distribution, and use of Paraquat for 60 days from April 1, the maximum period states are empowered to impose restrictions under existing rules, and urged the Centre to prohibit it permanently across the country. Odisha had taken a similar step in 2023. Earlier attempts by Kerala to sustain restrictions were struck down by courts on the grounds that states cannot impose indefinite bans.
Paraquat Usage and Market Footprint
Already outlawed in more than 70 countries, Paraquat Dichloride is linked to fatal poisoning, kidney failure, lung fibrosis, and Parkinson’s disease, according to AGRI_TIO. However, the proposed ban faces a massive commercial footprint in India, where the agrochemical market includes more than 1,500 manufacturers holding licences for the chemical. A February 2026 study published in The National Medical Journal of India described Paraquat as a “highly toxic compound” capable of causing severe illness and death through ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption.
Paraquat is extensively used in tea, rubber, coffee, cotton, paddy, wheat, maize, potato, grapes, and apple cultivation, besides weed control in canals, ponds, and waterways. Its low cost and rapid action have made it one of the preferred non-selective herbicides in Indian agriculture.
Trade Data and Domestic Sales Recovery
Trade data indicate that dependence on the herbicide has continued despite safety concerns. The following table summarises import and domestic sales trends:
| Year | Imports (tonnes) | Domestic Sales (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 8,598 | 1,13,000 |
| 2020-21 | – | 74,490 |
| 2022-23 | 20,786 | – |
| 2023-24 | – | 1,05,000 |
Source: AGRI_TIO citing trade sources.
Imports rose from 8,598 tonnes in 2019-20 to 20,786 tonnes in 2022-23, according to sources. Domestic sales, after declining to 74,490 tonnes in 2020-21 from 1.13 lakh tonnes in 2019-20, recovered to 1.05 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.
Impact on Weed Management and Farmers
The ban could significantly alter weed-management practices across cereals, plantation crops, and horticulture, and may increase cultivation costs for farmers dependent on chemical weed control. For commodity traders and agribusinesses, this regulatory shift signals a need to source alternatives such as glyphosate, glufosinate, or non-chemical methods. The 30-day comment period offers a window for stakeholders to engage, but the final ban appears imminent given the expert and registration committee recommendations.
For the target audience—commodity traders, procurement teams, and analysts—the key takeaway is the supply disruption for Paraquat, which could tighten the market for alternative herbicides and raise input costs for major Indian crops like tea, cotton, and paddy. The ban also highlights increasing regulatory risk in Indian agriculture, with states like Telangana and Odisha pushing for permanent restrictions. Monitoring the final notification date and subsequent enforcement will be critical for planning procurement and pricing strategies.
Sources:
