India's Agriculture Ministry has proposed an immediate ban on the manufacture, import, transport, distribution, sale, and use of Carbosulfan, an insecticide used in paddy, cotton and some horticulture crops, BusinessLine reported. The draft Banning of Carbosulfan Order, 2026, issued under the Insecticides Act, 1968, will be finalised after stakeholder feedback, with submissions due by September 19.
What the proposed ban covers
According to BusinessLine, the Agriculture Ministry is acting on the recommendation of the Registration Committee, which suggested complete prohibition of Carbosulfan. The draft order states:
No person shall import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribute and use Carbosulfan from the date of publication of the Order. The Registration Committee shall call back the certificates of registration granted for the Carbosulfan.
The ban would cover all existing uses of Carbosulfan in paddy, cotton and horticulture crops, where it is currently used to manage pests. The final decision will be taken after considering feedback from stakeholders, who have been asked to submit by September 19.
Why the Registration Committee recommended prohibition
The Registration Committee noted that Carbosulfan is an intrinsically highly hazardous carbamate insecticide that is rapidly metabolised to carbofuran, a highly toxic metabolite responsible for severe cholinesterase inhibition and acute systemic toxicity. It also cited significant toxicity of Carbosulfan to birds, pollinators, aquatic organisms and other non-target species, together with international regulatory actions restricting or prohibiting its use in several countries.
The government observed that although atropine and other supportive measures are available for symptomatic management, no specific antidote exists to reverse the toxic effects of Carbosulfan. Continued use is therefore likely to pose significant hazards to public health and the environment.
Compliance deadlines and registration recall
The draft order was published for information of all persons likely to be affected, with notice that it shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of a period of 30 days from the date on which the copies of the Gazette of India containing the Order are made available to the public. Joint Secretary Muktanand Agrawal said in the Order that the Central Government, after duly considering the Registration Committee's report, is satisfied that Carbosulfan use is likely to involve risk to human beings and animals as to render it expedient or necessary to take immediate action.
Market impact: FMC India's Marshal brand and Crystal Crop Protection deal
Currently, FMC India sells the insecticide under its 'Marshal' brand, which contains 25 per cent (Emulsifiable Concentrate) Carbosulfan. According to FMC India, the product is a broad spectrum insecticide that gives effective control over chewing and sucking pests in various crops through its dual contact and stomach poison action on the pests.
The company says Marshal is a trusted brand among farmers for decades, providing broad spectrum control on chewing and sucking pests in cotton, paddy and vegetables. According to FMC India, its different mode of action makes Marshal a good rotational partner in vegetable spray programs and manages issues around pest resistance.
Separately, FMC Corporation in May signed a definitive agreement to sell its India commercial business to Crystal Crop Protection for $252 million. Under the deal, Crystal will acquire FMC India's commercial operations in the crop protection segment, including licences for FMC brands sold in India. Crystal will also receive a preferred supply agreement for certain FMC active ingredients and formulated products, along with preferred access to FMC's pipeline of crop protection products in India.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regulation | Banning of Carbosulfan Order, 2026 |
| Governing act | Insecticides Act, 1968 |
| Proposed prohibition | Import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution, use |
| Stakeholder feedback deadline | September 19 |
| Notice period | 30 days after Gazette publication |
| Current brand in India | Marshal (FMC India), 25% EC Carbosulfan |
| Related transaction | FMC Corp to sell India commercial business to Crystal Crop Protection for $252 million |
The proposal signals a tightening of Indian pesticide regulations and will directly affect any entity holding Carbosulfan registrations or distribution rights, as the Registration Committee is set to recall certificates of registration once the order takes effect.
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