Indian agrochemical dynamics: 16 novel agrochemical molecules including spidoxamat and diflufenzopyr brought to India

Editor’s note: As a global agricultural country and an important pesticide market, the Indian pesticide regulatory trending has been always a focus of attention. Since the second half of 2023 to present, the Indian government has approved a total of 28 molecules for inclusion in the Insecticides Act 1968, covering 16 novel agrochemical molecules, which represent a technological upgrade in the Indian agrochemical market. By tracking and sorting out the Minutes of the 65^th-67^th CIB&RC meetings, this article presents the chemical characteristics, mechanism of action and prospects of application of the 16 novel agrochemical molecules, in a purpose to help you understand the latest development trend in the Indian agrochemical industry and get a timely update on the dynamic pesticidal technology and market worldwide. 

The Insecticides Act 1968 is an act that regulates the import, manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution and application of pesticides. For all pesticides for application to agriculture, the active ingredients of pesticides are firstly subjected to approval and be included in the Insecticides Act 1968, followed by grant of registration of pesticides, and finally the start of production of pesticides.

According to the Minutes of the 65^th-67^th CIB meetings, the Indian government has approved a total of 16 novel agrochemical molecules, which cover five insecticides, four fungicides and seven herbicides, involving 15 applicants in total. 

Most of the approved new compounds are held by multinationals, two by Bayer, one each by FMC, Corteva and Nihon Nohyaku, being respectively Spidoxamat, Rimisoxafen, Tiapyrachlor, Cybenzoxasulfyl, Feneptamidoquin, and Metproxybicyclone.

Table 1   Novel agrochemical molecules approved at 65^th-67^th CIB meetings, India

India is a highly potential market. In addition to the manufacturing of AIs, market demand for new molecules and products is also worth paying attention to.

AgroPages happily annouce that Godrej Agrovet's expert NK Rajavelu will be present at 2025 China Pesticide Exporting Workshop（CPEW), which will be held on July 10-11, 2025,Hangzhou, China,  to conduct an in-depth analysis on how to operate innovative products in India, tap into the market potential, and achieve a win-win situation.

For more information or to register, visit the CPEW 2025 website 

A close look at the 16 novel molecules:

Herbicides (seven varieties)

Mecoprop-P

A phenoxypropionic herbicide developed by BASF, which was transferred to Nufarm in 2004. From the perspective of chemical structure, mecoprop-P is an optically-active isomer of mecoprop, being a hormonal aryloxyalkanoate herbicide. This selective, systemic and hormonal herbicide is absorbed through leaves and delivered to roots, mainly for application to wheat, barley, oat, ranch seeds and grassland, being applied to post-emergence control of broadleaf weeds, especially for control of cleavers, chickweed, alfalfa and plantain, with a significant effect of control. In India, the product is filed by Atul Limited.

Diflufenzopyr

This is a semi carbazide herbicide developed by Sandoz (Novartis) in association with BASF. The product is used in maize, grassland/ranch, and non-crop fields for post-emergence control of annual broadleaf weeds and perennial weeds. Initially, it was commercially used in mix with dicamba, both being sodium salts. In 1996, ISO published the English generic name diflufenzopyr. In India, the product is filed by Cropnosys India Pvt. Ltd.

Flufenoximacil

A new-generation N-phenylimide-structured novel contact-toxicity herbicide developed by KingAgroot. The product has the advantages of broad herbicidal spectrum, high activity, fast weeding, satisfactory low temperature resistance and environment friendliness. Flufenoximacil not only enhances the effect of control of broadleaf weeds, but also overwhelmingly extends to effective control of grassy weeds and resistant weeds, having become one of the compounds with the broadest herbicidal spectrum among the PPO inhibiting herbicides available on the market. Meanwhile, it is the first revolutionary compound in the field of burndown herbicides over the last 40 years.

In 2022, ISO published the English generic name flufenoximacil. In April of the year, registration of flufenoximacil was granted in Cambodia. On September 18, 2024, flufenoximacil 95% TC was granted registration in China. In India, the product is filed by Zhongshan Crop Science India Pvt. Ltd.

Iptriazopyrid

An HPPD inhibiting herbicide with amide structure developed by Nissan Chemical. The product blocks the conversion of substrates to alkapton by inhibiting the key color  enzymatic activity which is critical to photosynthesis inside plants, causing a failure of synthesis of tocopherol and plastoquinone. This mechanism of action has an impact on synthesis of carotenoids in the target plants, which makes the leaves yellow and white, interfering with the progress of photosynthesis and eventually leading to die-out of target plants. In 2022, ISO published the English generic name iptriazopyrid. In India, the product is filed by Insecticides India Limited.

Rimisoxafen

A novel isoxazole herbicide containing difluoromethyl isoxazol and pyrimidine structure developed by FMC. The product may have a dual mechanism of action, fit for corn and soybean fields for control of broadleaf weeds. It is also effective in control of weeds that are resistant to ALS inhibiting herbicides and glyphosate, especially the resistant amaranth. In 2021, ISO published the English generic name rimisoxafen. In India, the product is filed by FMC India Private Limited.

Epyrifenacil

A PPO herbicide developed by Sumitomo Chemica, with broad-spectrum and fast-acting properties. The product is mainly used in corn, wheat, barley, rice, sorghum, soybean, cotton, sugar beet, peanut, sunflower, rape, flower, ornamental plants and vegetables, being effective in control of a variety of broad-leaf weeds and grassy weeds such as green foxtail, goose grass, barnyard grass, ryegrass and urochloa. In 2020, ISO published the English generic name epyrifenacil. In India, the product is filed by Sumitomo Chemical India Ltd.

Metproxybicyclone

A racemic triketone herbicide developed by Syngenta, which is seen as a triketone herbicide like benzobicylon, after one ketone group is removed. When the product is used in mix with triketone herbicides such as benquitrione and bicyclopyrone, it provides a significant synergistic effect against grassy weeds. For this reason, metproxybicyclone is deemed to have a novel mechanism of action. In 2023, ISO published the English generic name metproxybicyclone. In India, the product is filed by Syngenta.

Insecticides (four varieties)

Spidoxamat

A novel insecticide developed by Bayer CropScience, with the structure of spiro tetronic acid and tetramic acid. In addition to its spiro tetronic acid and tetramic acid features, spidoxamat has a variety of biological activities, being a novel compound with great potentials of development. According to experts’ opinion, its mechanism of action is similar to that of spirodiclofen and spiropidion, being all ACCase inhibitors. In 2021, ISO published the English generic name spidoxamat. In India, the product is filed by Bayer CropScience Limited.

Pioxaniliprole

A novel bisamide insecticide reportedly developed by PI Industries Co., Ltd in 2019. As inferred from the joint structure, it is a ryanodine receptor allosteric modulator, just like  flubendiamide and chlorantraniliprole. A biological test shows that pioxaniliprole has a good effect of control of both lepidopteran and homoptera pests. The development of pioxaniliprole is an important supplementation to the bisamide insecticide product range, with its high efficiency and low toxicity, it is of broad future application prospects. In 2023, ISO published the English generic name pioxaniliprole. In India, the product is filed by PI Industries Ltd. 

Tiapyrachlor

This is another pyridylpyrazole amide insecticide developed by Corteva following tyclopyrazoflor, which is seen as made via modification of the former, using thiazole and methylsulfonyl. Studies suggest that the mechanism of action of tiapyrachlor is similar to that of tyclopyrazoflor, which interferes with insect’s neurotransmission system to cause  abnormal behavior of insects, eventually leading to die-out of insects. Similar to insecticides that act directly or indirectly on chordotonal TRPV, tiapyrachlor exhibits outstanding selective activity against piercing-sucking mouthparts pests. In 2024, ISO published the English generic name tiapyrachlor. In India, the product is filed by Corteva Agriscience India Pvt. Ltd.

Cybenzoxasulfyl

A novel insecticide containing the structure of (ethanesulfonyl)pyridine and benzoxazole, as developed by Nihon Nohyaku. From the structural point of view, the product is seen as made via modification of the pyridine group and trifluoromethanesulfonyl of oxazosulfyl, with certain similarity to the chemical structure of indazapyroxamet. According to the relevant analytical report, cybenzoxasulfyl is systemic, with ovicidal activity, whereby to effectively control lepidopteran, hemiptera and coleoptera pests on a variety of crops, being also exceedingly effective in control of resistant pests. According to experts’ judgment, the mechanism of action of cybenzoxasulfyl is similar to that of oxazosulfyl, which is a kind of VGSC blocker and VAChT inhibitor. In 2024, ISO announced the English generic name cybenzoxasulfyl. In India, the product is filed by Nichino India Private Limited.

Flumethrin

An insecticide and acaricide developed by Bayer, which acts on the nervous system of pests, disrupting the function of the nervous system via the sodium ion channel, being a pyrethroid product. The product is used to control a variety of insect pests such as aphid, tetranychid, and plant hopper, being widely used in farmland, orchard, vegetable garden and greenhouses. In India, the product is filed by Macrotech Polychem Private Limited.

Fungicides (five varieties)

Feneptamidoquin

A novel quinoline fungicide developed by Syngenta Crop Protection. In terms of chemical structure, the product is highly similar to quinofumelin. The product is seen as made from the isoquinoline ring opening of the later, where the hydrazone group is changed into amide group, methyl group into isobutyl group, difluoride removed, fluorine atom brought into 8-quinoline. The mechanism of action of feneptamidoquin is assumed to be similar to that of quinofumelin, being a DHODH inhibitor in the pyrimidine de novo biosynthesis pathway.

Studies reveal that feneptamidoquin, its (S)-enantiomer and raceme have shown satisfactory preventive and therapeutic effect against a variety of diseases such as gray mold, gibberellic disease, anthracnose, full rot, root rot, sclerotinia disease, rice blast, leaf blight, glume blotch and net blotch. In addition, when feneptamidoquin is used in mix with pyrazole amide, triazole, QoIs and SDHIs insecticides, feneptamidoquin exhibits better effect of control of a variety of fungal diseases. In 2024, ISO published the English generic name feneptamidoquin. In India, the product is filed by Syngenta India Private Limited.

Metarylpicoxamid

A third-generation picolinamide fungicide discovered by Dow AgroSciences (now Corteva). The product is seen as a creative product derived from florylpicoxamid. Studies reveal that metarylpicoxamid is very likely acting on the mitochondrial Qi electron transport chain cytochrome bc1 complex, without cross-resistance to methoxyacrylate and triazole fungicides. In 2021, ISO published the English generic name of metarylpicoxamid. In India, the product is filed by Corteva Agriscience India Pvt. Ltd. 

Tebufloquin

A novel quinoline fungicide developed by Meiji in 2003. At the early stage of research and development of this product, it was primarily used for prevention and control of rice diseases, being especially effective in control of rice blast. Later, it was registered for prevention and control of soybean purple spot and tea anthracnose in Japan. Tebufloquin acts on complex II of the electron transport chain on mitochondrial inner membrane, with the target site on DHODH, without cross-resistance to conventional quinone-free inhibitors (QoI-fungicides).

In Japan, tebufloquin was developed and registered by Meiji and Mitsui Chemicals. The registrations cover tebufloquin 2% DP and tebufloquin 20% SC, for applications to tea, rice, and soybeans. In 2009, ISO published the English generic name tebufloquin. In India, the product is filed by Hikal Limited.

Pyrimethanil

An anilinopyrimidine fungicide developed by AgrEvo (now Bayer). The product inhibits the pathogenic bacterial protein secretion to prevent infection of pathogens, whereby to achieve a fungicidal effect. In addition, pyrimethanil has both protective and therapeutic functions, quickly penetrating plant tissues, especially in flowers and young fruits which are difficult to reach by normal sprays. 

So far, pyrimethanil has been granted registration in lots of countries and regions around the world, including China, the European Union, the United States, Australia and Canada. In 1991, ISO published the English generic name pyrimethanil. In India, the product is filed by India Pesticides Limited.

If you have any other questions, please contact AnnieFeng@agropages.com