CIB&RC · Pre-registration
Before a molecule can be registered it has to be tested in India. The RTT permit is what makes that lawful.
What is an RTT permit?
A permit for Research, Test and Trial allows a limited quantity of an unregistered insecticide to be imported or used in India for the purpose of generating data — principally bio-efficacy and residue trials required for registration. It authorises data generation only. It does not permit commercial manufacture, sale or distribution.
Where RTT sits in a registration programme
A Section 9(3) application for a new molecule requires multi-location, multi-season bio-efficacy data generated in Indian conditions, together with supervised residue trials. That data cannot be generated without material in the country, and the material cannot lawfully enter or be used without permission, because the substance is unregistered.
The RTT permit resolves that circularity. It is the instrument that lets a registration programme begin.
| RTT permit allows | RTT permit does not allow |
|---|---|
| Import of limited quantities for testing | Commercial import |
| Field trials at named institutions | Sale or distribution |
| Laboratory and analytical work | Manufacture for the market |
| Data generation for a registration dossier | Marketing claims of any kind |
What the application establishes
Applications of this kind require the applicant to identify the chemical and its properties, the purpose for which it is required, and the testing programme in detail. In practice the file addresses:
- Common accepted name, chemical name and code number of the substance, and whether it is included in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968
- Toxicity data, including acute oral and dermal LD₅₀ values
- Whether manufacture, sale, distribution or use is prohibited or restricted in the country of manufacture, with full details if so
- The main active group to which the chemical belongs
- The specific purpose for which the chemical is required
- The crops and pests against which it is proposed to be tested
- The institution where testing will be conducted, and the name and designation of the person supervising the tests
- Quantity requested and the likely area to be covered
- Whether any examination, analysis, tests or trials are already being carried on in the country, with details
Where RTT applications go wrong
Quantity requested exceeds the trial design
The quantity should follow arithmetically from the trial plan: number of locations, plot sizes, dose rates, number of seasons, plus a defensible margin for analytical work. A round number unconnected to the protocol invites the question of what the balance is for.
Trial institutions not identified, or not appropriate
The application names where testing will occur and who supervises it. Trials placed with facilities whose data CIB&RC will not accept for registration purposes waste both the permit and the season.
Trial design that will not support the intended claim
This is the expensive one. The trials conducted under an RTT permit are the trials that will support your label claim. If the design does not cover the crops, pests and dose range you intend to claim, you will discover it at registration, a full season or more later. Fix the intended claim before designing the trials, not afterwards.
Restrictions abroad not disclosed
Where a substance is prohibited or restricted in its country of manufacture, that must be disclosed with full details. Non-disclosure of a matter of public record is a poor start to a multi-year regulatory relationship.
Sequencing advice
Two seasons of bio-efficacy data is the practical minimum for most new molecules, and seasons arrive when they arrive. An RTT permit granted in the wrong part of the calendar can cost a full year of programme time.
We therefore work backwards from the sowing window for the target crop, and plan the permit application so material is in the country and at the trial institution before it opens. That single piece of scheduling is often worth more to a programme than any other efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell product manufactured during RTT trials?
No. An RTT permit authorises data generation only. Commercial manufacture, sale or distribution requires registration under Section 9 of the Insecticides Act, 1968, together with the applicable manufacturing and sale licences.
How much material can I import under an RTT permit?
The quantity should follow from your trial design — locations, plot sizes, dose rates, seasons and analytical requirements. Show the calculation in the application rather than requesting a round figure.
Do I need an RTT permit for a 9(4) me-too registration?
Usually not, because efficacy is already accepted for the registered molecule and fresh field trials are generally not required for the established use pattern. If you are seeking a claim beyond the registered one, supporting trials — and therefore permission to conduct them — may be needed.
Who can conduct the trials?
Trials must be placed with institutions whose data CIB&RC will accept for registration purposes, and the application names both the institution and the supervising person. Confirm acceptability before placing studies.
When should I apply?
Work backwards from the sowing window of the target crop. Material needs to be in the country and at the trial institution before the season opens; a permit granted after it has closed costs a full year.
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.
Planning trials for a new molecule?
Tell us the target crops, pests and the claim you intend. We will design the permit application around the season, not the other way round.
Talk to Our Regulatory Team