FCO 1985 · Fertilisers
Fertilisers and bio-fertilisers are governed by the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985 — a separate regime from CIB&RC, with its own schedules, specifications and state-level licensing.
How are bio-fertilizers regulated in India?
Bio-fertilisers are regulated under the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, administered by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare with the Controller of Fertilisers and State agriculture departments. A product must conform to the specification laid down in the relevant Schedule, and manufacture and sale require State-issued licences.
Two separate regimes, frequently confused
| Insecticides Act, 1968 | Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985 | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Pesticides, bio-pesticides, products with pest control claims | Fertilisers, bio-fertilisers, organic fertilisers, biostimulants |
| Authority | CIB&RC under DPPQS | Controller of Fertilisers and State agriculture departments |
| Mechanism | Product registration under Section 9 | Schedule specification conformity plus State licensing |
| Claim that triggers it | Kills, repels or controls pests | Supplies nutrients, or improves nutrient availability |
Companies with mixed portfolios routinely misclassify products, and the cost of doing so is significant — a full data package generated for the wrong regime. Establish the claim first; the regime follows from it.
Bio-fertilisers under FCO
Bio-fertilisers are living micro-organisms that improve nutrient availability to the crop. The principal categories recognised under FCO include:
- Nitrogen fixers — Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Acetobacter
- Phosphate solubilising bacteria and phosphate mobilising organisms
- Mycorrhizal bio-fertilisers — arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
- Potassium and zinc solubilising bacteria
- Carrier-based and liquid formulations of the above
Each has a prescribed specification covering viable cell count, carrier characteristics, pH, moisture, contamination limits and shelf life. Conformity to the specification is the core requirement — a product outside specification cannot lawfully be sold, however well it performs agronomically.
What compliance involves
1. Specification conformity
Establish through analysis that the product meets the Schedule specification for its category throughout the claimed shelf life. Viable count at the end of shelf life, rather than at manufacture, is where most products fail.
2. Manufacturing licence
Obtained from the State agriculture department for the manufacturing location, supported by factory documents, laboratory facilities and quality control arrangements.
3. Sale and marketing licences
Required in each State where the product will be sold, obtained by the entity making the sale. Multi-State distribution means multi-State licensing, and this is where national launches most often slip.
4. Labelling
Labels must carry the particulars required by FCO — category, specification, viable count, batch, date of manufacture, expiry, manufacturer details and the prescribed cautionary matter.
Inclusion of a new product in the Schedule
Where a product does not correspond to an existing Schedule entry, the route is an application for inclusion of a new specification, supported by chemistry, efficacy and safety data. This is considerably more involved than conforming to an existing entry, and should be planned as a project rather than treated as a filing.
The relationship with biostimulants
Biostimulants were brought within FCO by notification S.O. 882(E) dated 23 February 2021, with Clause 20C introduced for quality regulation and Schedule VI listing made mandatory before manufacture or import. The provisional registration regime that followed was extended several times and then ended, with the consequence that a large number of products lost provisional status and only those included in Schedule VI remain marketable. If your portfolio spans bio-fertilisers and biostimulants, the two need to be tracked separately — they sit under the same Order but on different pathways.
How JDR supports FCO fertiliser work
We classify products against the correct regime, assess specification conformity and identify where formulation change is needed to achieve it, prepare and file State licensing applications, draft compliant labels, and manage Schedule inclusion applications for products without an existing entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do bio-fertilizers need CIBRC registration?
No. Bio-fertilisers fall under the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, not the Insecticides Act, 1968. CIB&RC registration applies to products with pest control claims. A product claiming both would need to be assessed carefully, as the claim determines the regime.
What is the difference between a bio-fertilizer and a biostimulant?
A bio-fertiliser supplies or mobilises nutrients through living micro-organisms. A biostimulant stimulates plant physiological processes to improve nutrient uptake, growth, yield, quality or stress tolerance, without necessarily supplying nutrients. Both sit under FCO but follow different pathways, with biostimulants requiring Schedule VI inclusion.
Do I need a separate licence in every state?
Yes for sale. Manufacturing is licensed where the plant is located, but sale and marketing licences are required in each State where the product is distributed. Plan this into the launch timeline.
What is the most common compliance failure for bio-fertilizers?
Viable count falling below the specified minimum before the end of the claimed shelf life. Samples drawn from the market that fail specification create enforcement exposure, so shelf life should be claimed conservatively.
Can I sell a bio-fertilizer that is not in the Schedule?
No. The product must conform to a specification in the Schedule. Where no entry fits, you must apply for inclusion of a new specification with supporting data before marketing.
Reviewed: 22 September 2026 · Reflects the Insecticides Act, 1968 and Insecticides Rules, 1971 as amended, including the Insecticides Third (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 597(E) dated 8 July 2026). General guidance only — confirm current requirements before acting.
Launching a fertiliser or bio-fertiliser?
Send us the composition and the claim. We will confirm the regime, the applicable specification and the licensing you need State by State.
Talk to Our Regulatory Team