The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab on January 19, 2024, issued the notification regarding the prohibition of the sale, distribution, or use of certain types of formulations of insecticides.
The following has been stated namely: -
• The sale, distribution, or use of certain insecticides is not in the interest of basmati rice growers in view of the reasons recorded below, namely: -
1. That there is a risk of higher pesticide residues than the Maximum Residual Level (MRL) fixed by the competent authority in the basmati rice grains
2. The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana has recommended alternative agrochemicals to control pests of basmati rice in the State of Punjab
3. The Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association has also reported that many samples got tested by them contain the residue value of these pesticides much above the Maximum Residual Level values in Basmati Rice.
• The following have been prohibited namely: -
1. Acephate
2. Buprofezin
3. Chlorpyrifos
4. Hexaconozole
5. Propiconazole
• The sale, distribution, or use of all types of formulations of the prescribed insecticides is prohibited for a period of sixty days starting from July 15, 2024, on Basmati Rice.
[Notification No. S.O. 5/C.A. 46/ 1968/S.27/2024]
