As per Delhi High Court judgement Crystal Crop Protection Ltd is no longer entitled to import Halosulfuron Methyl 98% or undertake the indigenous manufacture of Halosulfuron Methyl 75% WG.

In a landmark judgment delivered by the Delhi High Court, comprising justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla, and argued on behalf of the Appellant by Shoba Ramamoorthy, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India, the Registration Certificate (RC) granted to M/s Crystal Crop Protection Ltd. for the import of Halosulfuron Methyl 98% and for the indigenous manufacture of Halosulfuron Methyl 75% WG has been quashed.

CCPL obtained an RTT permit in 2011 for the import of samples manufactured and supplied by M/s Fertiagro, Singapore. However, CCPL subsequently applied for a Registration Certificate in 2016 for the import of Halosulfuron Methyl 98% manufactured by Jiangsu Agrochemicals, China and supplied by M/s Hebei Bestar, China.

The Registration Committee granted the Registration Certificate despite this discrepancy and in the absence of any material demonstrating that M/s Jiangsu Agrochemicals was authorised to manufacture Halosulfuron Methyl 98% in 2011. Notably, M/s Jiangsu Agrochemicals was granted temporary registration for the manufacture of Halosulfuron Methyl 98% only in October 2018, as reflected on the official website of ICAMA.

The High Court held that the grant of the Registration Certificate under Section 9(3) was manifestly illegal. As a consequence of the judgment, CCPL is no longer entitled to import Halosulfuron Methyl 98% or undertake the indigenous manufacture of Halosulfuron Methyl 75% WG. The judgment has a direct and significant impact on CCPL’s sales and marketing of Halosulfuron Methyl-based products.

This judgment is of considerable significance as the Court has recognised the serious consequences that may arise from the import and use of pesticides/insecticides sourced from an untested or unauthorised manufacturer. The Court has underscored the potential risks posed to human and animal life, as well as the adverse impact such products may have on the environment. The judgment reinforces the importance of strict regulatory compliance in matters concerning agrochemicals and public safety.

The impact of the judgment is that Crystal Crop Protection Ltd. is prohibited from importing or manufacturing the aforesaid products. Consequently, dealers, distributors, stockists, retailers, and all other persons in the supply chain are also restrained from selling, distributing, stocking, marketing, or otherwise dealing in the said products.