Banned and restricted pesticides in India

• Paraquat Dichloride Order reportedS.O. 5234(E), 22 Sep 2026 (as reported)

  Registration of paraquat dichloride prohibited and all certificates of registration already issued cancelled, from the date of publication in the Gazette, under section 27(2) read with section 28 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 (as reported; a draft ban was published in July 2026).

• Carbosulfan Draft banDraft order, August 2026 (as reported)

  A draft order proposing to ban carbosulfan has been published for comments; the ban applies only after a final order is notified.

Reported in the trade press; we will replace these lines with the Gazette text once we have read it. Until then, check the Gazette of India before acting on them.

• AlachlorS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• AldicarbS.O. 682(E), 17 Jul 2001
• Aldrin
• Benzene Hexachloride (BHC)
• BenomylS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• Calcium Cyanide
• CarbarylS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• ChlorbenzilateS.O. 682(E), 17 Jul 2001
• Chlordane
• Chlorofenvinphos (Chlorfenvinphos)
• Copper Acetoarsenite
• DiazinonS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• Dibromochloropropane (DBCP)S.O. 569(E), 25 Jul 1989
• Dichlorvos (DDVP)S.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• DicofolS.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023
• DieldrinS.O. 682(E), 17 Jul 2001
• DinocapS.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023
• EndosulfanSupreme Court of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 213 of 2011: ad-interim order of 13 May 2011, finally disposed of on 10 Jan 2017
• Endrin
• Ethyl Mercury Chloride
• Ethyl Parathion (Parathion)
• Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)S.O. 682(E), 17 Jul 2001
• FenarimolS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• FenthionS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• Heptachlor
• Lindane (Gamma-HCH)
• LinuronS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• Maleic HydrazideS.O. 682(E), 17 Jul 2001
• Menazon
• MethomylS.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023
• Methoxy Ethyl Mercury ChlorideS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• Methyl ParathionS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• Metoxuron
• Nitrofen
• Paraquat Dimethyl Sulphate
• Pentachloro Nitrobenzene (PCNB) (Quintozene)S.O. 569(E), 25 Jul 1989
• Pentachlorophenol
• Phenyl Mercury Acetate
• PhorateS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• PhosphamidonS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• Sodium CyanideS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018Banned for insecticidal purposes only; regulation continues in the existing manner for non-insecticidal uses.
• Sodium Methane Arsonate
• Tetradifon
• ThiometonS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• Toxaphene (Camphechlor)S.O. 569(E), 25 Jul 1989
• TriazophosS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• TridemorphS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018
• Trichloro acetic acid (TCA)S.O. 682(E), 17 Jul 2001
• TrichlorfonS.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018

Entries without an order number: the official list does not give one.

• Captafol 80% PowderS.O. 679(E), 17 Jul 2001
• DichlorvosS.O. 1196(E), 20 Mar 2020
• Nicotine SulphateS.O. 325(E), 11 May 1992
• PhorateS.O. 1196(E), 20 Mar 2020
• TriazophosS.O. 1196(E), 20 Mar 2020

• Dalapon
• Ferbam
• Formothion
• Nickel Chloride
• Paradichlorobenzene (PDCB)
• Simazine
• SirmateS.O. 2485(E), 24 Sep 2014
• WarfarinS.O. 915(E), 15 Jun 2006

Withdrawal may become inoperative as soon as the required complete data as per the guidelines is generated and submitted by the pesticides industry to the Government and accepted by the Registration Committee (S.O. 915(E), 15 Jun 2006).

Entries without an order number: the official list does not give one.

• 2,4,5-T
• Ammonium Sulphamate
• Azinphos Ethyl
• Azinphos Methyl
• Binapacryl
• Calcium Arsenate
• Carbophenothion
• Chinomethionate (Morestan)
• Dicrotophos
• EPN
• Fentin Acetate
• Fentin Hydroxide
• Lead Arsenate
• Leptophos (Phosvel)
• Mephosfolan
• Mevinphos (Phosdrin)
• Thiodemeton / Disulfoton
• Vamidothion

The refused pesticides without an order number: the official list does not give one.

• Aluminium Phosphide

  Pest control operations with Aluminium Phosphide may be undertaken only by Government / Government undertakings / Government organisations / pest control operators under the strict supervision of Government experts or experts whose expertise is approved by the Plant Protection Adviser to the Government of India, except Aluminium Phosphide 15% 12 g tablet and Aluminium Phosphide 6% tablet. [RC decision circular F No. 14-11(2)-CIR-II (Vol. II) of 21-09-1984 and G.S.R. 371(E) of 20 May 1999; decisions of the 282nd RC of 02-11-2007 and the 326th RC of 15-02-2012]

  The production, marketing and use of Aluminium Phosphide tube packs with a capacity of 10 and 20 tablets of 3 g each are banned completely. (S.O. 677(E), 17 Jul 2001)

• Captafol

  The use of Captafol as foliar spray is banned. Captafol shall be used only as seed dresser. (S.O. 569(E), 25 Jul 1989)

  The manufacture of Captafol 80% powder for dry seed treatment (DS) is banned for use in the country except manufacture for export. (S.O. 679(E), 17 Jul 2001)

• Carbofuran

  All other formulations of Carbofuran except Carbofuran 3% encapsulated granule (CG), along with the crop labels, may be stopped from use. (S.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023)

• Chlorpyriphos (Chlorpyrifos)

  Chlorpyriphos is banned for use in ber, citrus and tobacco. (S.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023)

• Cypermethrin

  Cypermethrin 3% smoke generator is to be used only through pest control operators and is not allowed to be used by the general public. [Order of the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in WP(C) 10052 of 2009 dated 14-07-2009 and LPA-429/2009 dated 08-09-2009]

• Dazomet

  The use of Dazomet is not permitted on tea. (S.O. 3006(E), 31 Dec 2008)

• Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT) (DDT)

  The use of DDT for the domestic public health programme is restricted up to 10,000 metric tonnes per annum, except in case of any major outbreak of epidemic. M/s Hindustan Insecticides Ltd., the sole manufacturer of DDT in the country, may manufacture DDT for export to other countries for use in vector control for public health purposes. The export of DDT to Parties and State non-Parties shall be strictly in accordance with paragraph 2(b), article 3 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). (S.O. 295(E), 8 Mar 2006)

  Use of DDT in agriculture is withdrawn. In very special circumstances warranting the use of DDT for plant protection work, the State or Central Government may purchase it directly from M/s Hindustan Insecticides Ltd. to be used under expert governmental supervision. (S.O. 378(E), 26 May 1989)

• Dimethoate

  Dimethoate is banned for use in fruits and vegetables that are consumed as raw food items. (S.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023)

• Fenitrothion

  The use of Fenitrothion is banned in agriculture except for locust control in scheduled desert areas and public health. (S.O. 706(E), 3 May 2007)

• Malathion

  Malathion is banned for use on sorghum, pea, soybean, castor, sunflower, bhindi, brinjal, cauliflower, radish, turnip, tomato, apple, mango and grape. (S.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023)

• Mancozeb

  Mancozeb is banned for use on guava, jowar and tapioca. (S.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023)

• Methyl Bromide

  Methyl Bromide may be used only by Government / Government undertakings / Government organisations / pest control operators under the strict supervision of Government experts or experts whose expertise is approved by the Plant Protection Adviser. [G.S.R. 371(E), 20 May 1999 and earlier RC decision]

• Monocrotophos

  Monocrotophos is banned for use on vegetables. (S.O. 1482(E), 10 Oct 2005)

  The use of Monocrotophos 36% SL formulation is to be discontinued and no new certificate of registration for its manufacture shall be issued after the publication of S.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023.

  To provide alternatives to this formulation, so that farmers do not suffer losses for want of effective control of certain insect pests in specific crops, the label claims for other formulations of Monocrotophos may be extended within one year from the publication of S.O. 4294(E).

  After this period, all certificates of registration of Monocrotophos 36% SL stand cancelled. Sale, distribution or use of Monocrotophos 36% SL is allowed only for clearance of existing stock till its expiry period. (S.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023)

• Oxyfluorfen

  Oxyfluorfen is banned for use on potato and groundnut. (S.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023)

• Quinalphos

  Quinalphos is banned for use on jute, cardamom and sorghum. (S.O. 4294(E), 3 Oct 2023)

• Trifluralin

  The registration, import, manufacture, formulation, transport, sale and all its uses except use in wheat are prohibited and completely banned from 8 Aug 2018.

  A cautionary statement has to be incorporated in the label and leaflet that it is toxic to aquatic organisms and hence should not be used near water bodies, aquaculture or pisciculture areas. (S.O. 3951(E), 8 Aug 2018)