Deaths of last year on its mind, Maharashtra steps up pesticide vigil

"We have stopped the sale of five insecticides, including two that are classified as moderately toxic (acephate 75% soluble powder and diafenthiuron 50% wettable powder), two highly toxic (fipronil 40% + imidacloprid 40% wettable granules and profenofos 40% + cypermethrin 4% emulsifiable concentrate), and one extremely toxic (monocrotophos 36% soluble liquid). The storage-to-sale licences of six companies — FMC India Pvt Ltd, Cheminova India Ltd, Biostadt India Ltd, Bharat Insecticides Ltd, Krishi Rasayan Exports Pvt Ltd, and Rainbow Crop Health Ltd — have also been cancelled," Subhash Katkar, chief quality control officer of