Challenges in Regulation and Registration of Biopesticides: An Overview

Abstract

Indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides in agriculture and allied sectors have contributed to soil, water and environmental pollution leading not only to human and animal illnesses but also biodiversity loss. The late 1980s, thus, opened new avenues for alternative pest management practices. Biopesticides derived from biological sources were tried, and, over the years, they have become an integral part of pest management practices, thereby minimizing the use of chemical pesticides. However, to protect the farmers, registration requirement of biopesticides has been made mandatory to ensure safety to human health, beneficial non-target organisms and environment. Countries promoting biopesticides constitute various regulatory bodies including committees/ boards/special authorities in order to oversee the regulatory affairs for biopesticides. These regulatory bodies formulate the dossier requirements for biopesticides and update the dossiers from time to time based on local and international needs. Robust and stringent but user-friendly regulatory norms would ensure availability of quality and safe biopesticide formulations.

In this review, current regulatory mechanisms operative in India, associated issues and probable modalities to address them have been discussed.