Sudurpaschim province prepares to introduce pesticide management act

Dhangadhi: The Sudurpaschim Province Government is preparing to introduce the Pesticide Management Act to regulate the sale, distribution, storage, and commercial use of pesticides, aiming to minimize their adverse effects on human and animal health as well as the environment.

The Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives has registered the bill in the provincial assembly to formalize pesticide management in the province. Minister Bir Bahadur Thapa highlighted that the increasing use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture has negatively affected human health, emphasizing the need for regulatory measures.

Under the proposed Act, any individual, organization, or entity involved in producing, synthesizing, exporting, importing, storing, selling, distributing, transporting, packing, or commercially using pesticides or their active ingredients must register according to federal regulations. Those wishing to sell, distribute, store, or spray registered pesticides will be required to obtain a license from the laboratory under the committee’s supervision. The committee may revoke licenses if conditions are violated.

A Provincial Pesticide Management Committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry, will oversee pesticide-related tasks, including issuing and renewing licenses, monitoring compliance, formulating policies, and encouraging private sector investment in organic, botanical, and safe chemical pesticide industries.

The bill also stipulates that pesticide use and management must follow federal standards. Inspectors with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science or equivalent will be appointed, and the Crop Protection Laboratory will conduct quality and research testing of pesticides, including sample collection. Provisions regarding the sale, distribution, storage, and regulation of professional users, wholesalers, and retailers within the province will follow the Act’s guidelines.