The Union Agriculture Ministry has withdrawn its approval for the sale of 11 biostimulants derived from animal sources, including chicken feathers, tissues, bovine hide, and cod scales, owing to “religious and dietary restrictions.” This move comes months after clearing their use for crops such as paddy, tomato, potato, cucumber, and chilli.
National media has learnt that the decision followed complaints made to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s office by individuals from the Hindu and Jain communities. The ministry’s move is part of its effort to bring the biostimulant product market under a regulatory framework.
What are Biostimulants?
A biostimulant is a substance, microorganism, or a combination of both that stimulates plant processes to improve nutrient uptake, growth, yield quality, and stress tolerance. Biostimulants are different from fertilisers and are mainly used as sprays to enhance crop yield and quality. Unlike fertilisers, they do not supply nutrients directly but enhance plant productivity. Biostimulants are also unlike pesticides as they do not control pests. According to Fortune Business Insights, the Indian biostimulant market is currently valued at USD 355.53 million (2024) and is projected to grow to USD 1,135.96 million by 2032.
National media reports that Coromandel International, Syngenta, and Godrej Agrovet are among the major producers of biostimulants in India. These products are usually sold across the counter in liquid form or as sprays for crops.
The Centre’s recent decision is directed towards common types of biostimulants such as protein hydrolysates (mixtures of amino acids and peptides created by breaking down protein). These can be derived from plants, such as soy or maize, or from animal sources like feathers or tissues.
In its circular issued on September 30, the ministry “omitted” 11 biostimulants made from protein hydrolysates using different doses for green gram, tomato, chilli, cotton, cucumber, hot pepper, soybean, grapes, and paddy. The animal sources include bovine hide, hair, tanned skin, chicken feathers, pig tissue, skin, bone, and scales of cod and sardines.
These biostimulants were earlier added to Schedule VI of the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order (FCO) 1985, through a notification issued earlier this year after clearance by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
“No new category of biostimulants, which were not already in the market, were recommended for marketing. However, to avoid ethical issues and conflict with religious and dietary restrictions, biostimulants having protein hydrolysates derived from animal sources notified in the FCO were withdrawn till proper pre-harvest interval data (time between spraying and harvesting) is generated when these are used as foliar sprays (direct application on leaves),” said ICAR Director General Mangi Lal Jat to national media.
Until 2021, biostimulants were sold freely in the Indian market for more than a decade with no specific government regulations for their safety, sale, or efficacy. But in 2021, the government brought biostimulants under the FCO, which meant that companies had to register products and prove safety and effectiveness. Despite this, they were still allowed to be sold until June 16, 2025, provided applications for approval were submitted.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had reportedly flagged the proliferation of unregulated biostimulants in July. “Around 30,000 biostimulant products were being sold unchecked for several years and even in the last four years, around 8,000 products remained in circulation after stricter checks were enforced. The number has now come down significantly,” he said.