Centre restricts use of common weedicide glyphosate

Centre restricts use of common weedicide glyphosate

Subject: Environment

Context :The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare issued a notice restricting the use of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, citing health hazards for humans and animals. Only authorised Pest Control Operators are allowed to use it.

Concept :

• The notification was based on a 2019 report by the Government of Kerala on prohibiting the distribution, sale and use of glyphosate and its derivatives.
• Earlier, state governments of Maharashtra, Telangana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh have tried similar steps but failed.

Use in India

• In India, glyphosate has been approved for use only in tea plantations and non-plantation areas accompanying the tea crop. Use of the substance anywhere else is illegal.
• However, a 2020 study by PAN India on the state of glyphosate use in the country had worrying findings.
• Glyphosate was being used in more than 20 crop fields, it was found
• Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India believes stricter action is needed.

Glyphosate

• It was developed in 1970, and its scientific name is N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine under the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) system of nomenclature
• Its molecular formula is C3H8NO5P
• Glyphosate is an active ingredient in weed killer products and is an odourless white
• It is applied to the leaves of plants to kill weeds.
• It was first registered for use by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 1974
• This herbicide is used in agriculture, forestry on lawns and gardens, and for weeds in industrial areas.

Herbicides

• Herbicide is an agent, usually chemical, for killing or inhibiting the growth of unwanted plants, such as residential or agricultural weeds and invasive species.