Regulation of Biostimulant Products under Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985 - Sustainable Agriculture
Regulation of Biostimulant Products under Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985 - Sustainable Agriculture Background of the Decision Prior to regulation, the Indian market was flooded with nearly 30,000 unregulated biostimulant products . This raised concerns over quality, authenticity, and farmer exploitation , as many products lacked scientific validation. To ensure farmers receive safe, effective, and scientifically tested products , the Government brought biostimulants under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985 . The FCO, 1985, is a regulation framed under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to control the quality, distribution, and sale of fertilizers. Within the FCO, Schedule VI was created to specifically list and regulate approved categories of biostimulants . This step aligns with the government’s broader vision of sustainable agriculture, quality assurance, and farmer welfare . Regulatory Inclusion Notification No. S.O. 882 (E) dated 23rd February 2021 formally included...