India Withdraws Approval for 11 Animal-Based Biostimulants Over Religious Concerns

Biostimulants Latest News

• The Union Agriculture Ministry has revoked approval for 11 biostimulants derived from animal sources such as chicken feathers, pig tissue, bovine hide, and cod scales. 
• These products, earlier cleared for use in crops like paddy, tomato, potato, cucumber, and chilli, were withdrawn following complaints citing “religious and dietary restrictions.”

Biostimulants: An Overview

• Biostimulants are natural or synthetic substances that enhance plant growth, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance, without being traditional fertilizers or pesticides.
• It can be derived from plant extracts, microorganisms, animal by-products, or synthetic compounds.
• Importantly, biostimulants are distinct from pesticides or plant growth regulators, which are covered under the Insecticide Act, 1968.

Examples of Biostimulants with Uses

• Seaweed extracts: Improve root growth, enhance flowering, and increase resistance to drought and salinity.
• Humic & fulvic acids: Boost nutrient absorption and soil fertility.
• Protein hydrolysates & amino acids: Promote early plant growth, increase yield and fruit quality.
• Microbial inoculants (e.g., Azotobacter, Mycorrhizae): Aid in nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and better soil health.
• Chitosan (from crustacean shells): Enhances plant defense mechanisms against pests and diseases.

Advantages

• Improve nutrient use efficiency, reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers.
• Enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stresses like drought, heat, or salinity.
• Contribute to higher yields and better quality produce (size, color, taste).
• Promote soil health and microbial activity, supporting sustainable agriculture.
• Environmentally friendly alternative compared to excessive agrochemical use.

Regulation of Biostimulants in India

• Biostimulants in India are regulated under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985, formally included through a 2021 amendment. 
• Manufacturers must register products in Schedule VI with detailed data on chemistry, bio-efficacy, toxicology, and heavy metals. 
• Oversight lies with the Central Biostimulant Committee.

India’s Biostimulants Market

• India’s biostimulants market, valued at US$ 355.53 million in 2024, is projected to rise to US$ 1,135.96 million by 2032. 
• Major producers include Coromandel International, Syngenta, and Godrej Agrovet. 
• Biostimulants are typically sold in liquid form and applied to crops via spraying.

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Centre Withdraws Approval for Animal-Based Biostimulants

• The government has withdrawn approval for 11 biostimulants derived from animal-based protein hydrolysates—made from bovine hide, chicken feathers, pig tissue, cod scales, sardines, and other animal parts. 
• These biostimulants were earlier cleared for crops like paddy, tomato, chilli, cotton, cucumber, soybean, grapes, and green gram.

Regulatory Action

• The move came via a recent notification, which omitted these products from Schedule VI of the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO), 1985. 
• Though cleared earlier this year by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ICAR later withheld permission citing ethical, religious, and dietary concerns. 
• It stressed the need for pre-harvest interval data before allowing animal-derived foliar sprays.

Regulatory Evolution

• Biostimulants, distinct from fertilisers, are used mainly as sprays to boost crop yield, quality, and growth. 
• Until 2021, they were freely sold without specific rules on safety or efficacy. 
• The 2021 amendment to the FCO mandated registration and proof of safety, but companies could continue sales until June 16, 2025, if applications were filed.

Minister’s Concerns on Market Proliferation

• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted the rampant sale of unregulated biostimulants, with nearly 30,000 products in circulation earlier. 
• Even after stricter checks, about 8,000 remained in the last four years, but the crackdown has now reduced this to around 650 products.

Source: IE | IE