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The Department of Fertilizers has sought comments from all stakeholders on the draft Integrated Plant Nutrition Management Bill, 2022.
About the Draft Integrated Plant Nutrition Management Bill, 2022
Aim
– To promote the development and sustainable use of balanced fertilizers, including bio-fertilisers, bio-stimulates, nano-fertilizers and organic fertilizers.
– To simplify the process for the manufacture, production, distribution and price management of fertilizers in India, which will, in turn, improve the ease of doing business.
Salient provisions of the Draft Integrated Plant Nutrition Management Bill, 2022
Integrated Plant Nutrition Management Authority to be established and tasked with regulating the registration of fertilizer manufacturers, set out technical standards with respect to the quality of fertilizers etc.
The Central Government may fix the maximum prices of fertilizers to regulate the equitable distribution of fertilizers and their availability at fair prices.
No person can manufacture, sell, import for sale, or market fertilizers without obtaining the appropriate registration.
States have been empowered to appoint State Controllers of Fertilizers and Fertilizer Inspectors, who can conduct impromptu inspections on industry and trade armed with overarching powers to search, seize and confiscate.
The Central Government may prescribe the manner in which fertilizers may be moved from one state to another.
Source: This post is based on the article “Centre proposes law to control distribution, price, quality of fertilizers” published in The Hindu on 23rd February 2022
