Regulation of Biostimulant Products under Fertilizer Control Order (FCO),
1985
Regulation
of Biostimulants under Fertilizer Control Order
(FCO), 1985
Background
·
Prior to regulation, India had ~30,000 biostimulant products in the market.
·
To ensure quality and safety, the Government of
India included biostimulants in the Fertilizer
Control Order (FCO), 1985 via Notification No. S.O. 882(E) dated 23rd
February 2021.
·
Clause 20C was introduced to regulate biostimulant quality.
Definition
& Classification
Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms
that enhance plant growth, nutrient uptake, yield, and stress
tolerance—excluding pesticides and plant growth regulators.
They are
classified under Schedule VI into:
·
Botanical extracts (e.g., seaweed)
·
Biochemicals
·
Protein hydrolysates & amino acids
·
Vitamins
·
Cell-free microbial products
·
Antioxidants
·
Anti-transpirants
·
Humic & fulvic acids
·
Live microorganisms (excluding biofertilisers/biopesticides)
Provisional
Registration Timeline
·
G3 Certificates were issued for over 8,000
products to allow time for data generation (bioefficacy,
toxicity, chemistry).
·
Validity extensions:
o
Initially till 23 Feb 2023
o
Extended to 22 Feb 2024
o
Further to 22 Feb 2025
o
Final extension to 16 June 2025
Final
Deadline
·
No further extensions will be
granted.
·
Provisional registrations stand invalid from 17
June 2025.
·
Manufacturers/importers must now comply fully with
FCO regulations for continued sale and distribution.
This move ensures a regulated, high-quality biostimulant market that protects farmers and promotes
sustainable agriculture. Let me know if you'd like help drafting a compliance
checklist or communication for stakeholders.
[ABS News Service/10.09.2025]
Prior to inclusion of Biostimulant products in Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985, there were around 30000 products in the market. In order to regulate biostimulants in the country, the Government of India issued
Notification No S.O. 882 (E) dated 23rd February, 2021 by which the biostimulants have been included in the Fertilizer Control Order
(FCO), 1985 and provision under Clause 20C has been made for regulating the quality
of biostimulant.
As per Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 (FCO) “Bio-stimulant”
means a substance or micro-organism 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, regardless of its nutrient content, but does
not include pesticides or plant growth regulators which are regulated under Insecticides
Act, 1968. Bio-stimulants specified in the Schedule VI shall be classified under
any of the following categories, namely:-
(a) Botanical
extracts, including seaweed extracts;
(b) Bio-chemicals;
(c) Protein
hydrolysates and amino acids;
(d) Vitamins;
(e) Cell
free microbial products;
(f) Antioxidants;
(g) Anti-transpirants;
(h) Humic
& fulvic acid and their derivatives
(i) Live micro-organisms excluding biofertilisers and biopesticides
The provisional registration of biostimulants was a temporary provision for which G3 (Provisional Certificates) were issued
for more than 8000 products of biostimulants to provide
adequate time to manufacturers/importers
for generating data on bioefficacy, toxicity, chemistry,
etc. which is prerequisite for inclusion of biostimulants
in Schedule VI, FCO. The Provisional registration for biostimulants
was initially valid for a period of two years, ending 23rd February,
2023, which was extended till 22nd February, 2024, further extended till
22nd February, 2025 and again to 16th June, 2025, on the request
of industry.
The Government has provided these extensions
to the existing manufacturers/importers to manufacture/import for sale, sell, offer
for sale, stock or exhibit biostimulants for a specific
period to facilitate a smooth transition to the regulatory framework and ensure
the continuation of manufacturing, importing, selling, and stocking of biostimulants by stakeholders. Keeping in view the interests of farmers,
the Government has decided not to give any further extension to the provisional
registration for biostimulant products beyond 16.06.2025. Accordingly, the Provisional Registration
issued for biostimulants products stand invalid since
17.06.2025. The list of provisional registration for biostimulants
products which have become invalid henceforth has been uploaded on the website of
the Department of Agriculture as follows:
https://www.agriwelfare.gov.in/en/CirBiostimulants:Documents>>Circulars/Notifications>>Biostimulants
As of now, the Government of India has
included only 146 Biostimulant Products in the Schedule
VI of the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985 for which various notifications have
been published in the Gazette of India and uploaded on the website of the Department
of Agriculture as follows:
https://www.agriwelfare.gov.in/en/CirBiostimulants:Documents>>Circulars/Notifications>>Biostimulants
The Government of India has also issued
a toll-free number for farmers, which is 1800-180-1551.