Free guide · Insecticides Act, 1968
✓ Act and Rules as amended to 2025 · checked 24 October 2026
The Insecticides Act and Rules, made simple
India’s pesticide law in plain words: who registers, who licenses, what goes on the pack, what an inspector checks and what the penalties are, with the section or rule behind every line.
Seven steps, from registration to penalty
- RegisterThe Registration Committee registers each insecticide before anyone may import or make it.Act s. 9 · Rule 6
- LicenceThe State licensing officer licenses making, selling, stocking and pest control.Act s. 13 · Rules 9, 10
- Pack and labelAn approved pack, every batch tested first, a leaflet and a label in English and Hindi.Rules 16 to 20
- Store and moveNever with food or animal feed; separate rooms or locked cupboards.Rules 10C, 35, 36
- Sell and recordA bill for every sale, registers, and a monthly return within 15 days.Rule 15
- Inspect and testInspectors visit shops at least 3 times and factories twice a year, and send samples to analysts.Act ss. 20 to 24 · Rules 27, 28
- Ban and punishBans for public safety, cancelled registrations, and penalties for offences.Act ss. 27 to 29
The six authorities you will deal with
Central Insecticides Board
Advises the Central and State Governments on safety in making, selling, storing, moving and using insecticides. Decides toxicity classes, shelf-life and fitness for aerial spraying. Chaired by the Director-General of Health Services.
Act s. 4 · Rule 3Registration Committee (CIB&RC)
Registers each insecticide after checking its formula, efficacy and safety, and sets the conditions, including the approved label, leaflet and packs. Its secretariat is in Faridabad.
Act ss. 5, 9 · Rules 4, 6Central Insecticides Laboratory
Tests samples, checks residues, toxicity and efficacy, and settles disputed results: when a court sends it a sample, its report is final.
Act ss. 16, 24 · Rule 5Licensing officer
Appointed by the State Government for an area. Grants, varies, suspends and revokes licences.
Act ss. 12 to 14Insecticide inspector
Enters and searches premises and vehicles, checks registers, takes samples, stops sales for up to 30 days or seizes stock.
Act ss. 20 to 22 · Rules 26 to 34Insecticide analyst
Tests the inspector’s samples and reports within 30 days. No one with a business interest in insecticides may be one.
Act ss. 19, 24 · Rules 21 to 25Registering an insecticide
- One application per insecticide
- To the Registration Committee, in Form I, before import or manufacture.Act s. 9(1) · Rule 6(1)
- Decision
- Within 12 months, extendable by up to 6 months. A product new to India can get provisional registration for 2 years.Act s. 9(3), 9(3B)
- Same product, later applicant
- Registered on the same conditions as the first registration.Act s. 9(4)
- Fees
- ₹2,25,000 for a chemical insecticide; ₹10,000 for a bio-pesticide; ₹12,500 for export only; ₹25,000 under section 9(4). Paid through Bharatkosh or by card.Rule 6(2), 6(3) · since 6 April 2023
- Changes to a certificate
- ₹500 to ₹15,000 for each change, per certificate; for example ₹15,000 for a label expansion. A duplicate certificate costs ₹500.Rules 6A, 6B
- Appeal
- To the Central Government within 30 days, with a ₹2,500 fee. The Centre can also revise a decision within one year.Act ss. 10, 11 · Rule 7
- Refusal or cancellation
- Published in the Gazette, in English and Hindi newspapers, and in a Department of Agriculture journal.Act s. 28 · Rule 8
When an inspector takes a sample
- The visitAn inspector may enter and search the premises, including vehicles, check and copy registers, and seize them as evidence.Act s. 21(1)(a) to (c)
- Written noticeBefore taking a sample, the inspector tells you in writing (Form V(C)).Act s. 22(5) · Rule 33
- Three sealed portionsThe sample is split into three, or three small containers are taken. You may add your own seal. One portion is yours, one goes to the analyst, one is kept for court.Act s. 22(6)
- Receipt and priceYou get a receipt, and a fair price is paid if the sample passes.Act s. 22(3)
- Stop-sale or seizureSale can be stopped for up to 30 days (Form V(A)). If the defect cannot be put right, the stock is seized against a receipt (Form V(B)). Stock under a stop order must not be sold.Act s. 21(1)(d) · Rules 30 to 32
- The reportThe analyst reports within 30 days and you receive a copy.Act s. 24(1), 24(2)
- To contest itTell the inspector or the court in writing within 28 days of receiving your copy; otherwise the report is final. The court can then send your sealed portion to the Central Insecticides Laboratory, which reports within 30 days, and that report is final.Act s. 24(3), 24(4)
The colours on a pesticide label
| Toxicity | Words in the top triangle | Oral LD50 (mg/kg) | Skin LD50 (mg/kg) | Colour band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extremely toxic class I | POISON, with skull and crossbones | 1 to 50 | 1 to 200 | Bright red |
| Highly toxic class II | POISON | 51 to 500 | 201 to 2,000 | Bright yellow |
| Moderately toxic class III | DANGER | 501 to 5,000 | 2,001 to 20,000 | Bright blue |
| Slightly toxic class IV | CAUTION | More than 5,000 | More than 20,000 | Bright green |
The Act, section by section
| Basics | ||
|---|---|---|
| s. 1 | Name and start | Applies to all of India; most sections in force since 1 August 1971. |
| s. 2 | Other laws | Adds to other laws; does not replace them. |
| s. 3 | Definitions | “Insecticide” is any substance in the Schedule (fungicides and weedicides can be added) and any preparation containing one. Also defines misbranded, manufacture, sale, label and worker. |
| The bodies | ||
| s. 4 | Central Insecticides Board | Advises the Central and State Governments on technical matters. |
| s. 5 | Registration Committee | Registers insecticides; a chairman and up to five Board members. |
| s. 6 to 8 | Committees, procedure, staff | Board committees, bye-laws, and a secretary shared by the Board and the Committee. |
| Registration | ||
| s. 9 | Registration | Each insecticide needs registration before import or manufacture: decided within 12 months (+6), provisional for 2 years for products new to India. |
| s. 10 | Appeal | To the Central Government within 30 days. |
| s. 11 | Revision | The Centre may review a decision within one year. |
| Licences | ||
| s. 12 | Licensing officers | Appointed by each State Government. |
| s. 13 | Grant of licence | Needed to make, sell, stock, exhibit, distribute or carry out pest control. |
| s. 14 | Revocation | For misrepresentation or breach of conditions, after a show-cause notice. |
| s. 15 | Appeal | Within 30 days; ordinarily decided within six months. |
| What is prohibited | ||
| s. 16 | Central Insecticides Laboratory | The national testing laboratory. |
| s. 17 | Import and manufacture | No import or manufacture of misbranded or banned insecticides, or outside the registration conditions; making needs a licence. |
| s. 18 | Sale | No sale, stocking, transport or use of unregistered or banned insecticides; selling needs a licence. |
| Enforcement | ||
| s. 19 | Analysts | Appointed by the Central or a State Government. |
| s. 20 | Inspectors | Appointed by the Central or a State Government; public servants. |
| s. 21 | Inspectors’ powers | Enter, search, check registers, stop vehicles, take samples, stop sale for up to 30 days, seize. |
| s. 22 | Procedure | Receipts, written notice, three sealed portions. |
| s. 23 | Disclosure | You must tell an inspector where insecticide is made or kept. |
| s. 24 | Analyst’s report | Within 30 days; contest within 28 days; referee test at the Central Insecticides Laboratory. |
| s. 25 | Confiscation | Stock can be confiscated on conviction, or if a court finds it misbranded. |
| s. 26 | Poisoning reports | States can require poisoning cases to be reported. |
| Public safety | ||
| s. 27 | Emergency ban | Sale, distribution or use banned for up to 60 days, plus up to 30 more, while the risk is investigated. |
| s. 28 | Notifying cancellations | Refusals and cancellations are published in the Gazette. |
| Offences | ||
| s. 29 | Penalties | Up to 2 years or ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 for the main offences; more for repeat offences. |
| s. 30 | Defences | Not knowing is no defence; a dealer who bought from a licensed source and stored the product properly is protected. |
| s. 31, 31A | Trial | Prosecution needs the State Government’s written consent; first-class magistrates or Special Courts. |
| s. 33 | Companies | The people in charge of the business are liable along with the company. |
| Powers | ||
| s. 34, 35 | Directions and good faith | The Centre may direct States; officials acting in good faith are protected. |
| s. 36, 37 | Rules | The Centre makes the Insecticides Rules; States make rules on licence appeals. |
| s. 38 | Exemptions | The Act does not apply to use for your own household purposes, in your kitchen garden or on land you cultivate, or to non-pest uses; research bodies can be exempted. |
The Rules, chapter by chapter
| I | PreliminaryRules 1, 2 | Definitions: dealer, manufacturer (includes formulator), pest control operation, primary, secondary and transport packs, rural area. |
| II | Board, Committee and LaboratoryRules 3 to 5 | What each body does: toxicity classes, shelf-life, waiting periods before harvest, testing. |
| III | RegistrationRules 6 to 8 | Form I, fees, duplicate certificates, fees for changes, appeal, publishing refusals. |
| IV | LicencesRules 9 to 15 | Manufacturing, sale, household-only and pest control licences; expired stock; stock and price display; online sale; transfer; bills, registers and returns. |
| V | Packing and labellingRules 16 to 20 | Approved packs, batch testing before packing, the leaflet, the label (pack-size groups, toxicity square, QR code), no altering labels. |
| VI | Analysts and inspectorsRules 21 to 34 | Qualifications, duties, testing fees, inspection visits, stop-sale, seizure and sampling forms. |
| VII | Transport and storageRules 35, 36 | Away from food and feed, leaks dealt with at once, separate rooms or locked cupboards that are dry, lit and ventilated. |
| VIII | Worker safetyRules 37 to 44 | Medical checks, first aid, protective clothing, respirators, antidotes, training, aerial spraying, safe disposal of containers. |
| IX | MiscellaneousRules 45, 46 | Import only through named ports and airports; allowances for Board members. |
The numbers to remember
Recent changes
- 17 Mar 2023Official G.S.R. 211(E)
Labels: brand and common name equally prominent, a QR code on every pack, a minimum toxicity square on ultra-small packs.
- 6 Apr 2023Official G.S.R. 274(E)
Registration fees raised: ₹2,25,000 for a chemical insecticide (was ₹5,000).
- 3 Jun 2025Official G.S.R. 367(E)
Household-only licences eased; new Forms II and III; QR code on household insecticide packs.
- 19 Feb 2026Reported G.S.R. 139(E)
Dealers licensed before February 2017 without the qualification: time extended to 30 June 2026.
- 5 Jun 2026Draft G.S.R. 453(E), draft
Draft label changes published for comments: common name below the brand name, pictograms of small packs moved to the leaflet, English-only labels allowed on ultra-small packs.
- Jun 2026Reported G.S.R. 493(E)
Online licence applications, digital-only registers and electronic monthly returns from 15 September 2026.
- 8 Jul 2026Reported G.S.R. 597(E)
An import permit for insecticides imported for non-insecticidal uses.
- 22 Sep 2026Reported S.O. 5234(E)
Paraquat dichloride: registration prohibited and certificates cancelled.
Official: read in the law or the Gazette. Reported: from the trade press, until we have read the Gazette text. Draft: proposed, not in force.
The Insecticides Act: short answers
What is the Insecticides Act, 1968?
The central law that controls the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides in India, to prevent risk to people and animals. It has 38 sections and works through the Insecticides Rules, 1971. Most of it has applied across India since 1 August 1971.
What is CIB&RC?
The Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee. The Board (section 4) advises the Central and State Governments; the Registration Committee (section 5) registers each insecticide after checking its efficacy and safety. Their secretariat is at Faridabad.
What is the difference between registration and a licence?
Registration is for the product: the Registration Committee approves each insecticide, with its label and packs, before it can be imported or made (section 9). A licence is for the business: the State licensing officer allows a person to make, sell, stock or use it for pest control at a named place (section 13).
What does “misbranded” mean under the Insecticides Act?
Section 3(k) treats an insecticide as misbranded if, among other things, its label is false or misleading, it imitates another product, a needed warning is missing, it is not packed or labelled as the Rules require, it is not registered, its label mentions registration other than by the registration number, or it is more toxic than allowed, adulterated or contains something outside its registration.
What happens when an insecticide inspector takes a sample?
You get written notice and a receipt. The sample is split into three sealed portions, and you may add your own seal: one portion is yours, one goes to the analyst and one is kept for court. The analyst reports within 30 days. You have 28 days from receiving your copy to contest it; a referee test at the Central Insecticides Laboratory is then final.
Can a dealer be punished for a manufacturer’s defective product?
Not if the dealer proves all three points of section 30(3): the product was bought from an importer or a licensed manufacturer, distributor or dealer; the dealer did not know and could not, with reasonable care, have known of the defect; and it was stored properly and kept in the same state. Keep purchase bills and store stock properly.
What do the colours on a pesticide label mean?
The coloured triangle at the bottom of the toxicity square shows the toxicity class (Rule 19): red for extremely toxic, yellow for highly toxic, blue for moderately toxic and green for slightly toxic, based on the oral and skin LD50 of the product.
Does the Insecticides Act cover fungicides and weedicides?
Yes. The Act’s “insecticides” include fungicides, weedicides and other substances in its Schedule, which the Central Government adds to by notification. It does not apply to someone using an insecticide for their own household purposes, in their kitchen garden or on land they cultivate (section 38).
A plain-language summary of the Insecticides Act, 1968 (as amended to February 2025) and the Insecticides Rules, 1971 (as amended to 3 June 2025), not the legal text. NanoKheti is not a government body; the Act, the Rules and the Gazette notifications are authoritative, and this page is not legal advice. Also from NanoKheti: Pesticide label checklist · Pesticide licence guide · Banned and restricted pesticides in India · FCO biostimulant list.