Industry body says regulatory data protection could encourage companies to introduce newer crop-protection products in India and increase investment in research and innovation.
Highlights
- CropLife India has urged the Centre to introduce a five-year Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) regime for crop-protection products.
- The industry body says protection of regulatory data would encourage companies to register and launch newer pesticide molecules in India.
- It says Indian farmers currently have access to around 380 active ingredients (AIs), compared with about 1,200 globally.
- CropLife has suggested a two-pronged approach involving data protection as well as restrictions on existing pesticides where better alternatives are available.
New Delhi: CropLife India has urged the Centre to introduce a five-year Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) regime for crop-protection products, arguing that such a framework could encourage companies to bring newer pesticide molecules to India and increase investment in agricultural innovation.
According to the industry body, regulatory data generated by companies for registering new crop-protection products should receive protection for five years. Such data is typically produced through scientific studies relating to areas including safety, health and efficacy, as well as assessments of the likely impact of products on farmers.
CropLife India said protecting this information for a defined period could incentivise companies to invest in research and introduce newer technologies in the Indian market.
The association said Indian farmers currently have access to about 380 active ingredients used in crop-protection products, compared with around 1,200 available globally. It argued that restrictions on existing pesticides without ensuring the availability of better alternatives could adversely affect farmers.
CropLife has therefore suggested a two-pronged approach under which newer molecules are encouraged through regulatory data protection while restrictions on older products are considered alongside the availability of suitable alternatives.
Rahul Dhariwal, Chairman of CropLife India, said increasing pest pressures have made access to newer crop-protection technologies more important for farmers.
Mohan Babu, Vice-Chairman of CropLife India, said time-bound data protection could encourage innovation and fair competition. He added that newer molecules, including those requiring lower application doses, could potentially reduce their environmental impact.
According to the association’s estimates cited in the report, pests and diseases cause annual crop losses of around 10–30% in India, valued at approximately ₹2 lakh crore.
CropLife also pointed to regulatory practices in other countries, saying data-protection periods range from about six years in countries including China, Indonesia and Malaysia to as much as 10 years in markets such as the US, European Union, Canada, Thailand, Brazil and Colombia.
