Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last week wrote to Chief Ministers of all states to immediately stop the “forced tagging” of nano-fertilisers or biostimulants along with conventional fertilisers.Chouhan highlighted complaints that retailers are not selling subsidised fertilisers like urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) to farmers unless they purchase biostimulants.He also said that many farmers had recently raised complaints about the inefficacy of biostimulants. “It is necessary to review biostimulants thoroughly to see how much benefit the farmers are getting from it; if not, then permission to sell it cannot be given,” he said.What are biostimulants?The substances stimulate physiological processes in plants and help enhance the yield from a harvest. Plant-derived waste materials and seaweed extracts are at times used in their production.Officially, the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985, which regulates the manufacturing and sale of biostimulants, defines it as “a substance or microorganism or a combination of both whose primary function when applied to plants, seeds or rhizosphere is to stimulate physiological processes in plants and to enhance its nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutrition efficiency, crop quality and tolerance to stress… but does not include pesticides or plant growth regulators which are regulated under the Insecticide Act, 1968.”How big is India’s biostimulant market?Market research firm Fortune Business Insights noted, “The India biostimulants market size was valued at USD 355.53 million in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 410.78 million in 2025 to USD 1,135.96 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 15.64% during the forecast period.”Explained | Conflict in Middle East: As world watches oil, why India must watch its fertiliser supplyChouhan said that around 30,000 biostimulant products had been sold unchecked for several years, and even in the last four years, around 8,000 products remained in circulation. “After I enforced stricter checks, the number has now come down to approximately 650,” he said in a statement on July 15.Story continues below this adWhy did the government start regulating biostimulants?As biostimulants did not fall under the existing fertiliser or pesticide categories, they were sold in the open market without government approval for a long time.In India, fertilisers and pesticides are governed by the 1985 Fertiliser Control Order and the Insecticides Act of 1968, respectively. The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare issues the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO) under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and makes changes to it from time to time.However, in 2011, the Punjab and Haryana High Court made an observation. Any manufacturer producing a bioproduct claiming to be a substitute for insecticides or fertiliser, but not covered under the rules, was to apply to the respective Director General of Agriculture, in the case of Haryana and Punjab. This paved the way for states to take samples of these products and check them before allowing their sale to farmers.As the sale of biostimulants increased over the years, it caught the Centre’s attention. In 2017, NITI Aayog, the government’s premier think tank, and the Agriculture Ministry started working on a framework for biostimulants. Finally, in February 2021, the ministry amended the 1985 FCO and included biostimulants, paving the way for their regulated manufacturing, sale and import.Story continues below this adWhat does the FCO say about biostimulants?The inclusion of biostimulants empowered the Central government to fix specifications. The FCO classified biostimulants specified in Schedule VI of the FCO in eight categories, including botanical extracts (as well as seaweed extracts), bio-chemicals, vitamins, and antioxidants.Also Read | ExplainSpeaking: Why govt claims on reducing inequality in India are being contestedEvery manufacturer or importer of a biostimulant shall make an application to the Controller of Fertilisers along with the requisite product information. The product’s chemistry, source (natural extracts of plant/microbe/animal/synthetic), shelf-life, reports of bio-efficacy trials, and toxicity must be submitted, along with other data.The five basic acute toxicity tests are:(i) Acute oral (Rat)(ii) Acute dermal (Rat)(iii) Acute Inhalation (Rat)(iv) Primary skin Irritation (Rabbit)(v) Eye irritation (Rabbit)The four eco-toxicity tests are:(i) Toxicity to birds(ii) Toxicity to Fish (Freshwater)(iii) Toxicity to honeybees(iv) Toxicity to earthwormThe FCO clearly states that no biostimulant shall contain any pesticide beyond the permissible limit of 0.01ppm. Further, agronomic bio-efficiency trials shall be conducted under the National Agricultural Research System, including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and state agricultural universities. “Bio-efficacy trials shall be conducted at minimum three different doses for one season at three agro-ecological locations,” it states.Additionally, on April 9, 2021, the agriculture ministry constituted the Central Biostimulant Committee for five years, with the Agriculture Commissioner as its Chairperson and seven other members.Story continues below this adUnder the FCO, it shall advise the Centre on: (i) inclusion of a new biostimulant; (ii) specifications of various biostimulants; (iii) methods of drawing of samples and its analysis; (iv) minimum requirements of laboratory; (v) method of testing of biostimulants; (vi) any other matter referred to it by the central government.What is the latest government action on biostimulants?According to the FCO order, amended in 2021, manufacturers could make and sell biostimulants for two years if they made an application for provisional registration.Sources say that the Agriculture Ministry kept extending the two-year deadline, which allowed most of the manufacturers as of 2021 to continue making and selling biostimulants based on provisional registration. Whereas, under the regular registration, companies have to submit testing protocols to the government.On March 17, in the latest extension of the provisional certificate facility, the ministry allowed biostimulants’ sale for three months until June 16. It applied to all companies manufacturing or importing a biostimulant as of March 17, for which no standards were specified. With the March 17 notification having expired, the companies having provisional certificates and stocks of biostimulants cannot sell their products in the market now, said a source.Story continues below this adIn addition to this, the Agriculture Ministry notified “Specifications of Biostimulants” on May 26 for several crops, including tomato, chilli, cucumber, paddy, brinjal, cotton, potato, green gram, grape, hot pepper, soybean, maize, and onion.