[46 of 1968, Dt. 2-9-1968]
 

An Act to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings or animals, and for matters connected therewith.

Be it enacted by parliament in the nineteenth year of the republic of India as follows :-

It shall come into force on such date as the central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different states and for different provision of this Act.

"animals" means animals useful to human beings and include fish and fowl, and such kinds of wild life as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, being kinds which in its opinion, it is desirable to protect or preserve;

"Central Insecticide Laboratory" means the Central Insecticide Laboratory established, or as the case may be, the institution specified under section 16;

"Import" means bringing into any place within the territories to which this Act extends from a place outside those territories;

such other substances (including fungicides and weedicides) as the Central Government may, after consultation with the Board, by notification in the Official Gazette, include in the schedule from time to time; or

"label" means any written, printed or graphic matter on the immediate package and on every other covering in which the package is placed or packed and includes any written, printed or graphics matter accompanying the insecticides;

any process or part of a process for making, altering, finishing, packing, labelling, breaking up or otherwise treating or adopting any insecticides with a view to its sale, distribution or use but does not include the packing or breaking up for any insecticides in the ordinary course of retail business; and

if its label contains any statement, design or graphic representation relating thereto which is false or misleading in any material particular, or if its package is otherwise deceptive in respect of its contents; or

if its label does not contain a warning or caution which may be necessary and sufficient, if complied with to prevent risk to human beings or animals;

if any word, statement or other information required by or under this Act to appear on the label not displayed thereon such conspicuous manner as the other words, statements, design or graphic matter have been displayed on the label and such terms as to render it likely to be read and understood by any ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use; or

if the insecticide has a toxicity which is higher than the level prescribe or is mixed or packed with any substance so as to alter its nature or quality or contains any substance which is not include in the registration;

"package" means a box, bottle, casket, tin, barrel, case, receptacle, sack, bag, wrapper, or thing in which an insecticide is placed or packed;

"premises' means any land, shop, stall or place where any insecticide is sold or manufactured or stored or used, and include any vehicle carrying insecticides;

"sale" with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, means the sale of any insecticide whether for cash or on credit and whether by wholesale or retail, and includes an agreement for sale, an offer for sale, the exposing for sale or having in possession for sale of any insecticide and include also an attempt to sell any such insecticide;

any fittings fixed to such building or part of a building for the more beneficial enjoyment thereof. Public premises (eviction of unauthorized accupants) act, 1971, s. 2 (c).

The Central Government shall, as soon as may be, constitute a Board to be called the Central Insecticides Board to advise the Central Government and State Governments on technical matters arising out of administration of this Act and to carry out the other function assigned to the board by or under this Act.

The matters on which Board may advise under sub-section (1) shall include matters relating to

The risk to human beings or animals involved in the use of insecticides and the safety measures necessary to prevent such risk;

The manufacture, sale, storage, transport and distribution of insecticides with a view to ensure safety to human beings or animals.

The Director of storage and inspection, ministry of food, Agriculture, Community Development and Co-operation (Department of Food ex officio;)

The Director-General of shopping or, in his absence, the deputy Director-General of shipping, Ministry of Transport and Shipping, ex officio;

One person who shall be in charge of the department dealing with public health in a state, to be nominated by the Central Government;

Four persons, one of whom shall be expert in Industrial health and occupational hazards, to be nominated by the Central Government;

One person to represent the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, to be nominated by the Central Government;

The person nominated under clauses (xiv) to (xxi) inclusive of sub-section (3) shall, unless their seats become vacant earlier by resignation, death or otherwise, hold office for three years from the date of their nominations but shall be eligible for re-nominations:

Provided that the person nominated under clauses (xvii) and (xviii) shall hold office only for so long as they hold the appointments by virtue of which their nominations were made.

No act or proceeding of the Board, the Registration Committee or any Committee appointed under section 6; shall be called in question on the ground merely of the existence any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of the Board, the Registration Committee or such committee, as the case may be.

The Central Government shall constitute a Registration Committee consisting of a Chairman, and not more than five persons who shall be member of the Board (including the Drugs Controller, India and the Plant Protection Advisor to the Government of India)

to register insecticide after scrutinizing their formulae and verifying claims made by the importer or the manufacturer , as the case may be, as regards their efficacy and safety to human beings and animals; and

Where the Chairman is not a member of the Board, his term of office and other conditions of service shall be such as may be determined by the Central Government.
 

Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), a member of the Registration Committee shall hold office for so long as he is a member of the Board.

The committee may also co-opt such number of experts and for such purpose of period as it may deem fit, by any expert so co-opted shall have no right to vote.

Registration committee shall regulate its own procedure and the conduct of the business to be transacted by it.

The Board may appoint such committees as it deems fit and may appoint to them persons who are not members of the Board to exercise such powers and perform such duties as may, subject to such conditions, if any, as the Board may impose, be delegated to them by the Board.

The Board may, subject to the previous approval of the Central Government, make bye-laws for the purpose of regulating its own procedure and the procedure of any committee thereof and the conduct of all business to be transacted by it or such committee.

The Central Government shall-

appoint a person to the Secretary of the Board who shall also function as Secretary to the Registration Committee; and

Provide the Board and the Registration Committee with such technical and other staff as the Central Government considers necessary.

Any person desiring to import or manufacture any insecticide may apply to the Registration Committee for the registration of such insecticide and there shall be separate application for each such insecticide.

Provided that any person engaged in the business of import or manufacture of any insecticide immediately before the commencement of this section shall make an application to the Registration Committee within a period of [seventeen months] from the date of such commencement for the registration of any insecticide which he has been importing or manufacturing before that date:

[Provided further that where any person referred to in the preceding proviso fails to make an application under that proviso within the period specified therein, he may make such application at any time thereafter on payment of a penalty of one hundred rupees for every month or part thereof after the expiry of such period for the registration of each such insecticide.]

Every application under sub-section (1) shall be made in such form and contain such particulars as may be prescribed.

On receipt of any such application the registration of an insecticide, the Committee may, after such inquiry as it deems fit and after satisfying itself that the insecticide to which the application relates conforms to the claims made by the importer or by the manufacturer, as the case may be, as regards [on such conditions as may be specified by it] and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, the insecticide, allot a registration number thereto and issue a certificate of registration in token thereof within a period of twelve months from the date of receipt of the application. Provided that the Committee may, if it is unable within the said period to arrive at a decision on the basis of the materials placed before it, extend the period by a further period not exceeding six months.

Provided further that if the Committee is of opinion that the precaution claimed by the application as being sufficient to ensure safety to human beings or animal are not such as can be easily observed or that notwithstanding the observance of such precautions the use of the insecticides involves serious risk to human beings or animals it may refuse to register the insecticide.

3A.  In the case of applications received by it prior to the 31st March, 1975 notwithstanding the expiry of the period specified in sub-section (3) for disposal of such applications, it shall be lawful and shall be deemed always to have been lawful for the registration Committee to dispose of such application at any time after such expiry but within a period of one year from the commencement of the Insecticides (Amendment) Act, 1977 (24 of 1977):

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall be deemed to make any contravention before the commencement of the Insecticides (Amendment) Act, 1977 (24 of 1977), of a condition of a certificate if registration granted before commencement, an offence punishable under this Act.

3B.  Where the Registration Committee is of opinion that the Insecticide is being introduced for the first time in India, it may, pending any inquiry, register it provisionally for a period of two years on such conditions as may be specified by it.

3C.  The registration Committee may, having regard to the efficacy of the insecticide and its safety to human beings and animals, vary the conditions subject to which a certificate a registration has been granted and may for that purpose require the certificate-holder by notice in writing to deliver up the certificate to it within such time as may be specified in the notice.
 

Notwithstanding anything containing in the section, where an insecticide has been registered on the application of any person, any other person desiring to import or manufacture the insecticide or engaged in the business of, import or manufacture thereof, shall an application and on payment of prescribed fee be allotted a registration number and granted a certificate of registration in respect thereof on the same conditions on which the insecticide was originally registered.

Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Registration Committee under section 9 may, within a period of thirty days from the date on which the decision in communicated to him, appeal in the prescribed manner and on payment of the prescribed fee to the Central Government whose decision thereon shall be final:
 

Provided that the Central Government may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filling the appeal in time.

The Central Government may, at any time, call for the record relating to any case in which the Registration Committee has given a decision under section 9 for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the legality or propriety of any such decision and may pass any such order in relation thereto as it thinks fit:
 

Provided that no such order shall be passed after the expiry of one year from the date of the decision:
 

Provided further that the Central Government shall not pass any order prejudicial to any person unless that person has had a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed order.

The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint such person as it thinks fit to be licencing officer for the proposes of this Act and define the areas in respect of which they shall exercise jurisdiction.

Any person desiring to manufacture or to sell, stock or exhibit for sale or distribute any insecticide, or to undertake commercial pest control operations with the use of any insecticide may make an application to the licencing officer for the grant of a licence:

Provided that any person engaged in the business of manufacturing or selling, stocking or exhibiting for sale or distributing any insecticide immediately before the commencement of this section shall make an application to the licensing officer for the grant of a licence within a period of [seventeen months] from the date of such commencement:

Provided further that any person engaged in the commercial pest control operations immediately before the commencement of the insecticides (Amendment) Act, 1977 (24 of 1977), shall make an application to the licensing officer for the grant of a licence within a period of six months from the commencement of the said Act.

Every application under sub-section (1) shall be made in such form and shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed.
 

On receipt of any such application for the grant of a licence, the licensing officer may grant a licence in such form, on such conditions and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

A licence granted under this section shall be valid for the period specified therein and may be renewed from time to time for such period and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed :

Provided that where a licence has been granted to any person who has made an application under [the first proviso or, as the case may be the second proviso] to sub-section (1), that licence shall be deemed to be cancelled in relation to any insecticide, the application for registration whereof has been refused or the registration whereof has been cancelled, under this Act, with effect from the date on which such refusal or cancellation is notified in the Official Gazette.

In prescribing fees the grant or renewal of licences under this section, different fees may be prescribed for the sale or distribution of insecticides for purposes of domestic use and for other purposes.

If the licensing officer is satisfied, either on a reference made to him in this behalf or otherwise, that-

The licence granted under section 13 has been granted because of misrepresentation as to an essential fact; or

The holder of a licence has failed to comply with the conditions subject to which the licence was granted or has contravened any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder,

then, without prejudice to any other penalty to which the holder of the licence may be liable under this Act, the licensing officer may, after giving the holder of the licence an opportunity of showing cause, revoke or suspend the licence.

Subject to any rules that may be made in this behalf, the licensing officer may also vary or amend a licence granted under section 13.

(1) Any person aggrieved by a decision of licensing officer under section 13 (except under the proviso to sub-section (4)) or section 14 may, within a period of thirty days from the date on which the decision is communicated to him, appeal to such authority in such manner and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed:

Provided that the appellate authority may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.

On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the appellate authority shall, after giving the appellant an opportunity of showing cause, dispose of the appeal ordinarily within a period of six months and the decision of the appellate authority shall be final.

The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a Central Insecticides Laboratory under the control of Director to be appointed by the Central Government to carry out the functions entrusted to it by or under this Act;

Provided that if the Central Government so directs by a notification in the Official Gazette, the functions of the Central Insecticides Laboratory shall, to such extent as may be specified in the notification, be carried out at any such institution as may be specified therein and thereupon the functions of the director of the Central Insecticides Laboratory shall to the extent so specified, be exercised by the head of the institution.

No person shall, himself or by any person on his behalf, import or manufacture-

any insecticide the sale, distribution or use of which is for the time being prohibited under section 27;

any insecticide except in accordance with the condition on which it was registered;

any insecticide in contravention of any other provision of this Act or of any rule made thereunder:

Provided that any person who has applied for registration of an insecticide [under any of the provisos] to sub-section (1) of section 9 may continue to import or manufacture any such insecticide and such insecticide shall not be deemed to be a misbranded insecticide within the meaning of sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (vii) or sub-clause (viii) of clause (k) of section 3, until he has been informed by the Registration Committee of its decision to refuse to register the said insecticide.

No person shall, himself or by any person on his behalf; manufacture any insecticide except under, and in accordance with the condition of, a licence issued for such purpose under this Act.

No person shall himself or by any person on his behalf, sell, stock or exhibit foe sale, distribute [transport, use, or cause to be used] by any worker-

any insecticide, the sale, distribution or use of which is for the time being prohibited under section 27;

any insecticide in contravention of any other provision of this Act or of any rule made thereunder.

No person shall, himself or by any person on his behalf, sell, stock or exhibit for sale or distribute [or use for commercial pest control operations] any insecticide except under, and in accordance with the conditions of, a licence issued for such purpose under this Act.

Explanation : For the purpose of this section an insecticide in respect of which any person has applied for a certificate of registration [under any of the provisos] to sub-section (1) of section 9, shall be deemed to be registered till the date on which the refusal to register such insecticide is notified in the Official Gazette.

The Central Government or a State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint persons in such number as it thinks fit and possessing such technical and other qualifications as may be prescribed to be Insecticide Analysts for such areas and in respect of such insecticides or class of insecticides as may be specified in the notification:

Provided that no person who has any financial interest in the manufacture, import or sale of any insecticide, shall be so appointed.

The Central Government or a State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint persons in such number as it thinks fit and possessing such technical and other qualifications as may be prescribed to be Insecticides Inspectors for such area as may be specified in the notification:

Provided that any person who does not possess the required qualifications may be so appointed only for the purposes of clauses (a) and (d) of sub-section (1) of section 21:

Provided further that no person who has any financial interest in the manufacture, import or sale of any insecticide shall be so appointed.

Every Insecticide Inspector shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal code (45 of 1860), and shall be officially subordinate to such authority as the government appointing him may specify in this behalf.
 

to enter and search, at all reasonable times and with such assistance, if any, as he considers necessary, any premises in which he has reason to believe that an offence under this Act or the rules made thereunder has been or is being or is about to be committed, or for the purpose of satisfying himself that the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder or the conditions of any certificate of registration or licence issued thereunder are being complied with;

to require the production of, and to inspect, examine and make copies of, or take extracts from, registers, records or other documents kept by a manufacturer, distributor, carrier, dealer or any other person in pursuance of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder and seize the same, if he has reason to believe that all or any of them may furnish evidence of the commission of an offence punishable under this Act or the rules made thereunder;

to make such examination and inquiry as he thinks fit in order to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder are being complied with and for the purpose stop any vehicle;

to stop the distribution, sale or use of an insecticide which he has reason to believe is being distributed, sold or used in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, for a specified period not exceeding twenty days, or unless the alleged contravention is such that the defect may be removed by the possessor of the insecticide, seize the stock of such insecticide;

to take samples of any insecticide and send such samples for analysis to the Insecticide Analyst for test in the prescribed manner; and

to exercise such other powers as may necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act or the rules made thereunder.

The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), shall, as far as may be, apply to any search or seizure under this Act as they apply to any search or seizure made under the authority of a warrant issued under section 94 of the said code.

An Insecticide Inspector may exercise the powers of a police officer under [section 42 of the code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], for the purpose of ascertaining the true name and residence of the person from whom a sample is taken or insecticide is seized.

Where an Insecticide Inspector seizes any record, register or document under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 21, he shall, as may be, inform a Magistrate and take his orders as to the custody thereof.

He shall use all despatch in ascertaining whether or not the insecticide or its sale, distribution or use contravenes any of the provisions of section 18 and if it is ascertained that the insecticide or its sale, distribution or use does not so contravene, forthwith revoke the order passed under the said clause or, as the case may be, take such action as may be necessary for the return of the stock seized;

If he seizes the stock of the insecticide he shall, as soon as may be, inform a Magistrate and take his orders as to the custody thereof;

Without prejudice to the institution of any prosecution, if the alleged contravention be such that the defect may be remedied by the possessor of the insecticide, he shall, on being satisfied that the defect has been so remedied, forthwith revoke his order and in case where the Insecticide Inspector has seized the stock of insecticide, he shall, as soon as may be, inform a Magistrate and obtain his order as the release thereof.

Where an Insecticide Inspector takes any sample of an insecticide, he shall tender the fair price thereof and may require a written acknowledgement therefor.

Where the price tendered under sub-section (3) is refused, or where the Insecticide Inspector seizes the stock of any insecticide under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 21, he shall tender a receipt therefor in the prescribed form.

Where an Insecticide Inspector takes a sample of any insecticide for the purpose of test or analysis, he shall intimate such purpose in writing in the prescribed form to the person from whom he takes it, and in the presence of such person unless he wilfully absents himself, shall divided the sample into three portions and effectively seal and suitably make the same and permit such person to add his own seal and mark to all or any of the portions so sealed and marked:

Provided that where the insecticide is made up in containers of small volume, instead of dividing a sample as aforesaid, the Insecticide Inspector may, and if the insecticide be such, that it is likely to deteriorate or be otherwise damaged by exposure shall take three of the said container after suitably marking the same and, where necessary, sealing them.

The Insecticide Inspector shall restore one portion of a sample so divided or more one container, as the case may be, to the person from whom he takes it and shall retain the remainder and dispose of the same as follows:

One portion or container, he shall forthwith send to the Insecticide Analyst for test or analysis; and

The second, he shall produce to the Court before which proceedings, if any, are instituted in respect of the insecticide.

Every person for the time being in charge of any premises where any insecticide is being manufactured or is kept for sale or distribution shall, on being required by an Insecticide Inspector so to do, be legally bound to disclose to the Insecticide Inspector the place where the insecticide is being manufactured or is kept, as the case may be.

The Insecticide Analyst to whom a sample of any insecticide has been submitted for test or analysis under sub-section (6) of section 22, shall, within a period of sixty days, deliver to the Insecticide Inspector submitting it a signed report in duplicate in the prescribed form.

The Insecticide Inspector on receipt thereof shall deliver one copy of the report to the person from whom the sample was taken and shall retain the other copy for use in any prosecution in respect of the sample.

Any document purporting to be a report signed by an Insecticide Analyst shall be evidence of the facts stated therein, and such evidence shall be conclusive unless the person from whom the sample was taken has within twenty-eight days of the receipt of a copy of the report notified in writing the Insecticide Inspector or the Court before which any proceedings in respect of the samples are pending that he intends to adduce evidence in controversion of the report.

Unless the sample has already been tested or analysed in the Central Insecticides Laboratory, where a person has under sub-section (3) notified his intention of adducing evidence in controversion of the Insecticide Analyst's report the court may, of its own motion or its discretion at the request either of the complainant or of the accused, cause the sample of the insecticide produced before the Magistrate under sub-section (6) of section 22 to be sent for test or analysis to the Laboratory, which shall make the test or analysis and report in writing signed by, or under the authority of, the Director of Central Insecticides Laboratory the result thereof, and such report shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated therein.

The cost of a test or analysis made by the Central Insecticides Laboratory under sub-section (4) shall be paid by the complainant or the accused as the Court shall direct.

Where any person has been convicted under this Act for contravening any of the provisions of this Act or of the rules made thereunder, the stock of the insecticide in respect of which the contravention has been made shall be liable to confiscation.

Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), where the Court is satisfied on the application of an Insecticide Inspector or otherwise and after such inquiry as may be necessary, that the insecticide is a misbranded insecticide, such insecticide shall be liable to confiscation.

The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, require any person or class of persons specified therein to report all occurrences of poisoning (through the use of handling of any insecticide) coming within his or their cognisance to such officer as may be specified in the said notification.

If, on receipt of a report under section 26 or otherwise, the Central Government or the State Government is of opinion, for reason to be recorded in writing, that the use of any insecticide specified in sub-clause (iii) of clause (e) of section 3 or any specified batch thereof is likely to involve such risk to human being or animals as to render it expedient or necessary to take immediate action then that Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, prohibit the sale, distribution or use of the insecticide or batch, in such area, to such extent and for such period (not exceeding sixty days) as may be specified in the notification pending investigation into the matter:

Provided that where the investigation is not completed within the said period, the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, may extend it by such further period or periods not exceeding thirty days in the aggregate as it may specify in a like manner.

If, as a result of its own investigation or on receipt of the report from the State Government and after consultation with the Registration Committee, the Central Government, is satisfied that the  use of the said insecticide or batch is or is not likely to cause any such risk, it may pass such order (including an order refusing to register the insecticide or canceling the certificate of registration, if any, granted in respect thereof) as it deems fit, depending on the circumstances of the case.

A refusal to register any insecticide or a cancellation of a certificate of registration of any insecticide shall be notified in Official Gazette and in such other manner as may be prescribed.

Imports, manufactures, sells, stocks or exhibits for sale or distributes any insecticide deemed to be misbranded under sub-clause (1) or sub-clause (iii) or sub-clause (viii) of clause (k) of section 3; or

Imports or manufactures any insecticide without certificate of registration; or

Manufactures, sells, stocks or exhibits for sale or distributes an insecticide without a licence; or

Causes an insecticide, the use of which has been prohibited under section 27, to be used by any worker; or

Obstructs an Insecticide Inspector in the exercise of his powers or discharge of his duties under this act or the rules made thereunder,

For the first offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend of two years, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both;

For the second and a subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both ;

Whoever uses an insecticide in contravention of any provisions of this Act or any rule made thereunder shall be punishable with fine, which may extend to five hundred rupees.

Whoever contravenes any of the other provisions of this Act or any rule made thereunder or any condition of certificate or registration of licence granted thereunder, shall be punishable-

For the first offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine or with both;

For the second and a subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine or with both.

If any person convicted of an offence under this Act commits a like offence afterwards it shall be lawful for the court before which the second or subsequent conviction take place to cause the offender's name and place of residence, the offence and the penalty imposed to be published in such newspaper or in such other manner as the Court may direct.

Save as hereinafter provided in this section, it shall be no defence in a prosecution under this Act to prove merely that the accused was ignorant of the nature or quality of the insecticide in respect of which the offence was committed or of the risk involved in the manufacture, sale or use of such insecticide or of the circumstances of its manufacture or import.

For the purposes of section 17 an insecticide shall not be deemed to be misbranded only by reason of the fact that-

There has been added thereto some innocuous substance or ingredient because the same is required for the manufacture or the preparation of the insecticide as an article of commerce in a state fit for carriage or consumption, and not to increase the bulk weight or measure of the insecticide or to conceal its inferior quality or other defect; or

In the process of manufacture, preparation or conveyance some extraneous substance has unavoidably become intermixed with it.

A person not being an importer or a manufacturer of an insecticide or his agent for the distribution thereof, shall not be liable for contravention of any provision of this Act, if he proves-

That he did not know and could not, with reasonable diligence, have ascertained that the insecticide in any way contravened any provision of this Act; and

That the insecticide, while in his possession, was properly stored and remained in the same state as when he acquired it.

No prosecution for an offence under this Act shall be instituted excepts by, or with the written constant of, the State Government or a person authorized in this behalf by the State Government.

No court inferior to that of a [Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class] shall try any offence under this act.

Whenever an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, or was responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment under this Act if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary, or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

"company" means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and

If the person committing an offence in company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punish accordingly, provided that nothing shall render any such person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

Where an offence under this act has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director or manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

"Company" means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and

"Director" in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm. Where there is no proof that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance or is attributable to any neglect on the part of the accused within the meaning of s. 33(2) of the act, the accused cannot be convicted.-Valuri Srivarma Sastri v. State of A.P. (1981) 2 ALT 346 (AP).

The Central Government may give such directions to any State Government as may appear to the Central Government to be necessary for carrying into execution in the state any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule or order made thereunder.

No prosecution, suit or other proceeding shall lie against the Government, or any officer of the Government, or the Board, the Registration Committee or any Committee of the Board, for anything in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

The Central Government may, after consultation with the Board and subject to the condition of previous publication, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Act:

Provided that consultation with the Board may be dispensed with if the Central Government is of opinion that circumstances have arisen which render it necessary to make rules without such consultation, but in such a case the Board shall be consulted within six months of the making of the rules and the Central Government shall take into consideration any suggestions which the Board may make in relation to the amendment of the said rules.

In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may prescribe-

the functions of the Board and of the Registration Committee and the travelling and other allowance payable to members of the Board, the Registration Committee and any Committee of the Board;

the places at which insecticide may be imported and prohibit their import at any other place;

the form of application for registration of an insecticide and the particulars relating thereto;

the manner of appeal to the Central Government under section 10 and fee payable therefor;

the form of application for the grant of licence and the particulars relating thereto;

the form of licence, the conditions attached thereto and the fee payable therefor;

the circumstances in which a licence may be varied or amended under sub-section (2) of section 14;

the qualifications, powers and duties of an Insecticide Analyst and an Insecticide Inspector

the manner of testing or analyzing the sample of any insecticide and the fee payable therefor;

the form in which intimation shall be given by an Insecticide Inspector under sub-section (5) of section 22 to a person from whom a sample of an insecticide is taken for test or analysis;

the from in which the insecticide analyst shall submit a report of his test or analysis to the insecticide inspector under sub-section (1) of section 24;

the protective clothing and equipment to be used by workers during the manufacture, formulation, transport, distribution and application of insecticides and other facilities to be provided to keep themselves and things supplied to them free from any contamination;

the use by the workers of any such protective clothing, equipment and other facilities.

the precautions to be taken against poisoning through the use or handling of insecticides;

the measures for detecting and investigating cases in which poisoning has occurred;

the instruction and training to be provided regarding the use of things supplied to the workers for ensuring their safety;

the facilities for medical examination of workers engaged in the manufacture or handling of insecticides;

the equipment for and method of applicationb of, an insecticide and the disposal of surplus material, washings and containers, following application;

the restrictions on storage of insecticides during transport or, otherwise along with articles of food;

the maximum proportion of any insecticide which may be added to, or contained in, any preparation for domestic use and the restriction thereon;

the manner in which refusal to register an insecticide or cancellation of certificate of registration thereof may be notified;

the officer or authority to whom the Central Government may delegate any of the powers and functions conferred on it by this Act;

Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session [or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid], both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both House agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

The State Government may, after consultation with the Board and subject to the condition of previous publication, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions in this Act and not inconsistent with the rules, if any, made by the Central Government.

In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for-

the authority to which, the manner in which, and the fee on payment of which, an appeal may be filed under section 15 and the procedure to be followed by the appellate authority in disposing of the appeal;  

the delegation of any of the powers and functions conferred by this Act on the State Government to any officer or authority specified by that government.

the use of any insecticide by any person for his own household purposes or for kitchen, garden or in respect of any land under his cultivation;

any substance specified or included in the Schedule or any preparation containing any one or more such substances, if such substance or preparation is intended for purposes other than preventing, destroying repelling or mitigating any insects, rodents, fungi, weeds and other forms of plant or animal life not useful to human beings.

The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, and subject to such conditions, if any, as it may specify therein, exempt from all or any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, any educational, scientific or research organization engaged in carrying out experiments, with insecticides.