Overview

• On July 15, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a review meeting ordering clear rules and SOP-driven approvals for biostimulants.
• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has been tasked with conducting data-backed efficacy tests before any product can enter the market.
• Regulatory crackdowns on unapproved producers have reduced the pool of licensed biostimulants from about 30,000 to roughly 650.
• Manufacturers found selling unvalidated or fake formulations now face enforcement actions under the amended Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) Control Order.
• The overhaul responds to widespread farmer complaints over ineffective products and underpins a sector forecast to exceed $1.1 billion by 2032.