India approves new antibiotics for crops

NEW DELHI, 25 December 2019: India has recently approved Aureofungin, Kasugamycin, Validamycin and Streptomycin+ Tetracycline combination as new antibiotics under the Insecticide Act 1968 for use as pesticides to combat certain fungal and bacterial diseases in plants.

While announcing this in the lower house of Indian parliament, Indian Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar said, "Pesticides are toxic substances but they do not pose any adverse effect on human beings, animals and the environment if they are used as per the label and leaflet approved by the Registration Committee."

While registering the pesticide, the label and leaflets are also approved which contains the details of the crop, disease/pest against which it is recommended, dose rate, directions about use, chemical composition, toxicity triangle, precautions to use and packaging specifications, the minister stressed.

The use of the above pesticides is regulated under the Insecticide Act 1968 and the rules framed for use in the country by the Registration Committee only after satisfying about their efficacy and safety to human health, animal and environment.

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