Although
most of the dangers from unregulated and indiscriminate use of pesticides were brought
into focus as early as in the year 1958 when the Government of India appointed a
Commission of enquiry to suggest Inter-alia remedial measures following a number
of deaths in Kerela and Madras (Tamil Nadu) by poisoning through the consumption of
imported wheat contaminated by pesticide accidentally which was shipped together with food
grains. The whole question of pesticide use and legislation was studied in 1964-67 by an
Expert Committee of Indian Council of Agricultural Research headed by Prof. M.S. Thacker.
Based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee a comprehensive Insecticides Act was
passed in 1968 to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution
and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risks to human beings and animals and for
other matters connected therewith. The enforcement of Act was tranferred to the Ministry
of Agriculture in the year 1970 by the Ministry of Health and family Planning. The
department of Agriculture of this Ministry took immediate steps to frame the Rules and
constituted Central insecticides Board and Registration committee. The states were
simultaneously advised to appoint all functionaries mentioned in the Act. After the stage
was fully set, all the provisions of the Insecticides Act was brought into force with
effect from 1st August, 1971. In the Act and the Rules framed there under, there is
compulsory registration of the pesticides at the Central level and licence for their
manufacture, formulation and sale are dealt with at the State level. With the enforcement
of the Insecticides Act in the country pesticides of very high quality are made available
to the farmers and general public for house-hold use, for protecting the agricultural
crops from the ravages of their pests, humans from diseases and nuisance caused by public
health pests and the health hazards involved in their use have been minimised to a great
extent. For the effective enforcement of the Insecticides Act, the following bodies have
been constituted at the Central level -
