[08th
May 2024] In exercise of the powers
conferred by section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955), the
Central Government hereby makes the following Order further to amend the
Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985, namely:- (1)
This Order may be called the Fertiliser
(Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) (Third ) Amendment Order, 2024. (2)
It shall come into force on the date of its
publication in the Official Gazette. In Clause 20 C, relating to
" Specifications in respect of Biostimulants",- (i)
for sub-clause (1), the following sub-clause
shall be substituted, namely:- "(1)
Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Order, the specification of Biostimulants, including its name, active
ingredient or tracer molecule or where it is not possible to indicate its
active ingredient or tracer molecule there its chemical composition , name of
crop to which it is applied , its benefits and the method of analysis for
determination of its active ingredients or chemical composition or tracer
molecule shall be specified by the Central Government in Schedule VI.." (ii)
in sub-clause (2), after item (h) and the
entries relating thereto, the following shall be inserted namely:- "(i)
Live micro-organisms excluding biofertilizers and biopesticides"; (iii)
for sub-clause (3), the following sub-clause
shall be substituted, namely:- "(3)
Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Order, for inclusion of any new Biostimulant in Schedule VI, manufacturer
or importer shall submit an application to the controller in form G with the
following data (A)
Chemistry: (1)
Source (natural extracts of plant or microbe
or animal or synthetic). (2)
Product Specification (with analysis from
Good Laboratory Practice or National Accreditation Board for Testing and
Calibration Laboratory (NABL) accredited laboratory), Physical and Chemical
properties of active ingredients and adjuvants, if any. (3)
Method of analysis conforming to the
specifications. (4)
Shelf-life; (B)
Bio-efficacy Trials (1)
Agronomic Bio-efficiency trials shall be
conducted at National Agricultural Research System, including Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, State Agricultural Universities. (2)
Bio-efficacy trials shall be conducted at
minimum three different doses for one season at three agro ecological
locations; (C)
Toxicity: (1)
Name of the Institute or Details of the
Report or Publication (where the manufacturer of Biostimulant obtained the
certificate or the report ratifying the claims) (2)
The test report along with recommendation of
following five basic acute toxicity tests (i) to (v) and four Eco toxicity
tests (vi) to (ix) of GLP accredited laboratory shall be submitted along with
the application, namely:- (i)
Acute oral (Rat); (ii)
Acute dermal (Rat); (iii)
Acute Inhalation (Rat); (iv)
Primary skin Irritation (Rabbit); (v)
Eye irritation (Rabbit); (vi)
Toxicity to bird; (vii)
Toxicity to Fish (Freshwater); (viii)
Toxicity to honeybee; and (ix)
Toxicity to earthworm. Note: The Long-term chronic
studies as in case of pesticides are not needed to be conducted: Provided that in case of
Protein hydrolysates, sea weed (Ascophyllum nodusum, Saragassum, Kappaphycus,
Gracilaria and Ulva), amino acids, vitamins, Humic and fulvic acid no
toxicology data is required to be submitted. The manufacturer/ importer
should submit an affidavit to the effect that their product is non-toxic and
shall be safely used as Biostimulants. (D)
Heavy metal analysis report; (E)
The sample of the product along with an
Affidavit by the manufacturer or importer on non judicial stamp paper of rupees
ten stating that the product is not laced with pesticide beyond permissible
limit of 1 ppm: Provided that in case of a
Biostimulant having natural origin or other, the requirement of necessary data
shall be as decided by the Central Biostimulants Committee as per the
guidelines formulated by it in this regard: Provided further that on
accumulation of data on chemistry, bio-efficacy or toxicity (other than
exempted categories) product or formulation shall be considered for grouping
into categories and shall be included in the Schedule VI, on accumulation of
data, products or formulations shall be considered under crop grouping for
bioefficacy and toxicity exemption". (iv)
for sub-clause 7, the following sub-clause
shall be substituted, namely:- "7.
No person shall manufacture or import
any Biostimulant, unless such Biostimulant is notified by the Central
Government in Schedule VI." (v)
sub-clause 8 shall be omitted; (vi)
in sub-clause 10, for the figures and words,
".01 ppm", the figure and words "1 ppm", shall be
substituted.Fertiliser
(Inorganic, Organic Or Mixed) (Control) (Third ) Amendment Order, 2024