Contents
Insecticides Act, 1968
This act (48 of 1968) was enacted on 2-9-1968. It came into force from 1-3-1971 (Sec. 4,7,8 & 36) and 1-8-1971 (remaining part). It extends to the whole of India. It has 38 sections and a schedule listing insecticides amended from time to time.
It is an Act to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings or animal and mattes connected therewith.
Provisions are made for the Central Insecticides Board, its committees, procedure and officers (S.4 to 8). Registration of insecticides, appeal and revision (S.9 to 11), Licensing (S12 to 15), Central Insecticides Laboratory (S.16), Prohibition of import and manufacture (S.17), Sale, stock, distribute, transport, use etc. (S.18) Insecticide Analysis (S.19), Inspectors (S.20 to 23). Report of Insecticides Analyst (S.24), Confiscation of stock (S.25) Notice of poisoning (S.26), Prohibition of sale etc. for reasons of public safety (S.27), Cancellation of registration (S.28), Offences & punishment (S.29), Defences which may or may not be allowed (S.30), Cognisance & trial (S31), Special courts (S.31A), Offences by companies (S.33), Power of Central Government and State Government to make rules (S.36 & 37) and Exemption (S.38).
By various notifications from 1989 to 1996, many insecticides are banned or restricted in India, e.g. DDT, Chlorobenzilate, BBCP, PCNB, Toxaphene, Aldrin, Chlordane Hyptachlor, Tetradifon, Nitrofen, Benzene Hexachloride etc.
Insecticides Rules 1971
These rules came into force on 30-10-1971. They have 9 chapters, 46 rules, 2 schedules and 22 forms.
Chapter-I gives definitions.
Pests- Means any insects, rodents, fungi, weeds and other forms of plant or animal life not useful to human being [R.2 (h)].
Laboratory- means the central insecticides laboratory. [(R. 2 (h)].
Commercial Pest Control Operation- Means any application or dispersion of insecticide (s) including fumigants in household or public or private premises or land and includes pest control operations in the field including aerial applications for commercial purpose but excludes private use.
Pest Control Operator- Means any person who undertakes pest control operations and includes the person or the firm or the company or the organisation under whose control a person’s is operating.
Chapter-II is regarding the Board and its functions (R.3) to 5), Chapter-III regarding registration of insecticides (R.6 to 8), Chapter-IV for grant of licences (R.9 to 15), Chapter-V for packaging & labelling (R.16 to 20), Chapter-VI for insecticides analysts and Insecticides Inspectors (R.21 to 34), Chapter-VII for transport & storage (R. 35 to 36), Chapter-VIII for protective clothing, equipment and other facilities for workers (R.37 to 44) and Chapter –IX miscellaneous (R.45 to 46).
The first schedule prescribes 22 forms of which the last one (for medical examination of workers) is reproduced in this part. Second schedule u/r 25 prescribes fees for testing or analysing the samples of insecticides.
Insecticides cannot be manufactured, stored or handled with any consumable article (R 10-C).
Packing and Labelling (R: 16 to 20):
Every container package should be of the approved type. A leaflet should be put inside containing particulars about the plant disease, insects, animals or weeds for which it is to be applied, manner of application, symptoms of poisoning, safety measures and first-aid treatment necessary, antidote, decontamination or safe disposal procedure, storage and handling precautions, effect on skin, nose eye, throat etc. and common name of the insecticide (R. 18).
In labelling warning and cautionary statement should be included.
- For category-I (Extremely toxic) insecticides, the symbol of a skull and cross bones and the world ‘POISON’ should be printed in red. Statement “keep out of the reach of children and if swallowed or if symptoms of poisoning occur call physician immediately” should be added.
- For category II (Highly toxic) insecticides, the word ‘POISON’ in red and statement “keep out of the reach of children” should be printed.
- For category III (moderately toxic) the word ‘DANGER’ and statement “keep out of the reach of children”.
- For category IV (Slightly toxic) the word ‘CAUTION’ should be mentioned.
Category classification is as under-
| Extremely toxic | 1-50 | 1-200 | Bright red |
| Highly toxic | 51-500 | 201-2000 | Bright yellow |
| Moderately toxic | 501-5000 | 2001-20000 | Bright |
| Slightly toxic | >5000 | >20000 | Bright Green |
Transport and Storage (R. 35, 36)
Package for rail transport shall be packed as per Red Tariff by Railways. No transportation or storage in such a way that insecticides may come in contact with food stuffs or animal feeds. If it is mixed up due to any damage to package during transport or storage, it shall be examined by competent authorities notified by the State Government and safely disposed. If any leak occurs, the transport agency or the storage owner shall take urgent measures to prevent poisoning and pollution of soil, water etc.
The packages of insecticides should be stored in separate rooms or almirahas under lock and key. Such rooms shall be well built, dry, well-lit, ventilated and of sufficient dimension.
Protective Equipment and other Facilities for Workers (R. 37 to 44)
All persons engaged in handling, dealing or otherwise coming in contact with insecticides during manufacture/formulation or spraying shall be medically examined before employment and then periodically once in a quarter by a qualified doctor who is aware of risks of pesticides and report be kept in Form XXII given below. For persons working with organo-phosphorous or carbamate compound, their blood cholinesterase level shall be measured monthly. The blood residue estimation shall be done yearly of persons working with organo-chlorine compound. Any person showing symptoms of poisoning shall be immediately examined and given proper treatment.
First-aid treatment shall always be given before the physician is called IS 4015 part I and II shall be followed in additior to any other books on the subject. The workers shall be educated regarding effects of poisoning and the first-aid treatment to be given.
Protective clothing which shall be washable (to remove toxic exposure) and not allowing penetration by insecticide shall be given to workers. A complete suit shall consist (a) Protective outer garment/overalls/hood/hat. (b) rubber gloves extending half-way up to fore-arm (c) dust-proof goggles and (d) boots.
For prevention of inhalation of toxic dusts, vapours or gases, the workers shall use (a) chemical cartridge respirator. (b) Supplied air respirator. (c) mask with canister as per requirement. In no case the exposure in air should exceed the maximum permissible level.
Sufficient stocks of first-aid tools, equipment, antidotes, medicines etc. should be kept.
The workers shall be trained for safety precautions and use of safety equipment.
The packages and surplus materials shall be safely washed and disposed to prevent pollution. The packages shall not be left outside to prevent re-use. They shall be broken and buried away from habitation. Aerial spraying precautions are given in rule 43.
