Indian Gujarat High Court announced Order for granting registrations for import of pesticides formulations

On 5 September 2013, Indian Gujarat High Court announced an Order laying down conditions for granting registrations for “Import of Formulations without registering its Technical Grade Pesticides”. Key parts of the Order are as follow:

1. Even in case of import of formulations, the technical grade/material will be tested and actual physical sample of such technical grade of each consignment when it is imported will have to be provided by the importer which will be subjected to all the rigours of the tests applicable to the indigenous manufacturer like the examination of chemical composition, test with regard to bio-efficacy and human safety as well as its probable effect on the soil and human life;

2. The guidelines may be made more transparent as well as more effective so as to provide equal treatment to the indigenous manufacturers as well as the importers who are importing such pesticides manufactured outside India.

3. The procedure evolved by the Registration Committee for grant of "deemed registration" cannot be sustained as discussed above and, therefore, no further "deemed registration" may be granted till the matters are finally heard or appropriate guidelines are issued by the Government of India.