The Insecticides Act, 1968, is an Act of the Parliament of India, enacted on September 2, 1968, to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution, and use of substances defined as insecticides. The Act's origin lies in the need to prevent risks to human beings, animals, and the environment from the unregulated use of toxic pesticides. It was brought into force on August 1, 1971, to establish a legal framework for quality control and safety in the agrochemical sector.
The Act works by mandating the registration of all insecticides before they can be imported or manufactured. This is governed by Section 9, which requires registration with the Central Insecticides Board (CIB) and the Registration Committee (RC). The RC scrutinizes the insecticide's formula and verifies claims regarding its efficacy and safety to human beings and animals. Furthermore, the Act requires a license for any person desiring to manufacture, sell, stock, or distribute any insecticide (Section 13). It prohibits the import or manufacture of misbranded or unregistered insecticides under Section 17. Enforcement is carried out by appointed Insecticide Analysts and Insecticide Inspectors.
The Act is closely connected to the Insecticides Rules, 1971, which provide detailed procedures for its implementation. Recently, the core legislation has been slated for replacement: the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has prepared the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, which aims to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968, and the Insecticides Rules, 1971. This proposed Bill seeks to modernize governance, introduce digital processes, and impose enhanced penalties for violations, while the fundamental principle of mandatory registration and licensing remains. Separately, the Insecticides Rules, 1971, were amended by the Insecticides (First Amendment) Rules, 2025, to improve labeling standards and introduce features like QR codes for transparency.