Prior to 1968, no comprehensive act was available to anchor major policies with respect to pesticides. However, since then many policies, anchored by the Insecticides Act, 1968, were adopted to mainly promote pesticide use in various ways. Some of these policies are:

• To encourage the import of pesticides

• To encourage equity participation/flow of foreign funds in the pesticide industry to establish joint ventures/wholly owned subsidiaries so that they are able to promote their products in India

• To encourage demonstrations to promote the use of pesticides by the farmers

• To establish vending mechanisms through wholesale/retail dealerships.

The policies adopted till now have mainly concentrated on the promotion of pesticide use and to establish/control the vending mechanisms. The policies on issues such as ban/restriction, risks and hazards, safety of use, environmental pollution have not been formulated in tune with the changing needs of the country and toxicological values of pesticides identified globally from time to time. Due to such lacunae in policies, India has remained the best potential pesticide market for Western manufacturers.

To remedy the lacunae, it would be necessary to adopt the following policies at the national level:

• Policy regarding ban/restriction on use of pesticides

• Policy regarding control of pollution caused by pesticides

• Policy regarding safety of use of pesticides

• Policy regarding sale and availability

• Policy regarding promotion of sale of pesticides

• Policy regarding food pollution and drinking water pollution

• Policy regarding eco-friendly pesticides

• Policy regarding Integrated Pest Management.