India poised to ban Carbosulfan, citing health risk to human and animal population

File pic: The Registration Committee notes that Carbosulfan is an intrinsically highly hazardous carbamate insecticide, which is rapidly metabolised to carbofuran, a highly toxic metabolite
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On the recommendation of the Registration Committee suggesting complete prohibition of Carbosulfan, an insecticide used in India to manage pests in paddy, cotton and some horticulture crops, the Agriculture Ministry has proposed an immediate ban on the manufacture, import, transport, distribution, sale, and use of Carbosulfan under the Insecticides Act, 1968. However, a final decision will be taken after considering feedback from stakeholders, who have been asked to submit by September 19.

“…the Central Government, after duly considering the report of the Registration Committee is satisfied that the use of Carbosulfan insecticide is likely to involve risk to human being and animals as to render it expedient or necessary to take immediate action;

“Now therefore, the Draft Order, which the Central Government proposes to make…is hereby published for information of all persons likely to be affected thereby and notice is hereby given that the said draft order shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of a period of 30 days from the date on which the copies of the Gazette of India containing this Order are made available to the public,” joint secretary Muktanand Agrawal said in an Order.

This Order, Banning of Carbosulfan Order, 2026, said: “No person shall import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribute and use Carbosulfan from the date of publication of the Order. The Registration Committee shall call back the certificates of registration granted for the Carbosulfan.

The Registration Committee has noted in its recommendation that Carbosulfan is an intrinsically highly hazardous carbamate insecticide which is rapidly metabolised to carbofuran, a highly toxic metabolite responsible for severe cholinesterase inhibition and acute systemic toxicity; significant toxicity of Carbosulfan to birds, pollinators, aquatic organisms and other non-target species, together with international regulatory actions restricting or prohibiting its use in several countries.

Although atropine and other supportive measures are available for symptomatic management, no specific antidote exists to reverse the toxic effects of Carbosulfan and its continued use is likely to pose significant hazards to public health and the environments, the government said.

Currently, FMC India under its ‘Marshal’ brand sells the insecticide, which contains 25 per cent (Emulsifiable Concentrate) Carbosulfan. The company says it is a broad spectrum insecticide that gives effective control over chewing and sucking pests in various crops through its dual contact and stomach poison action on the pests.

“Marshal insecticide, a trusted brand among farmers from decades and is known for its broad spectrum control on various chewing and sucking pests in cotton, paddy and vegetables. A different mode of action makes Marshal insecticide a good rotational partner especially in vegetable spray programs and manages issues around pest resistance,” FMC India said on its website.

FMC Corporation in May signed a definitive agreement to sell its India commercial business to Crystal Crop Protection for $252 million under which Crystal will acquire FMC India’s commercial operations in the crop protection segment, including licences for FMC brands sold in India. Crystal will also receive a preferred supply agreement for certain FMC active ingredients and formulated products, along with preferred access to FMC’s pipeline of crop protection products in India.

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