• The government has restricted use of herbicide Glyphosate and its derivatives, fearing health hazards and risk to human beings/animals.

• The Centre has decided that glyphosate will be used only through Pest Control Operators (PCOs).

• The move is opposed by an industry association — Agro-Chemical Federation of India (ACFI) — citing endorsements from global studies and regulatory bodies.

• Glyphosate and its formulations are widely registered and currently used in more than 160 countries, including the European Union and the USA. 

• The companies have been given three months time to return the certificate, else strict action will be taken as per the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968.

• The final notification restricting Glyphosate comes more than two years after a draft was issued by the ministry on July 2, 2020. The draft was issued following a report from the Kerala government for prohibiting the distribution, sale and use of this herbicide.

Glyphosate 

• Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide to combat weeds that compete with cultivated crops.

• Glyphosate works by blocking an enzyme essential for plant growth. The sodium salt form of glyphosate is used to regulate plant growth and ripen specific crops. 

• Glyphosate stops a specific enzyme pathway, the shikimic acid pathway. The shikimic acid pathway is necessary for plants and some microorganisms. The product is used primarily in agriculture, but also in forestry and lawn and garden care.

• Products containing glyphosate are sold in various formulations, including as liquid concentrate, solid, and ready-to-use liquid.

• Since it is approved for use in many countries, it has been subject to extensive testing and regulatory assessment in the EU, USA and elsewhere, and by the World Health Organisation.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store