Central government has proposed a law to empowers it to fix maximum selling price of fertilizers and control its quality and distribution.

Key Points

• Department of Fertilizers has asked comments on the draft Integrated Plant Nutrition Management Bill, 2022, from all the stakeholders.
• It is convenient in public interest that central government should take under its control on distribution, price and quality of standards of fertilizers.

Provisions of the Bill

• The bill seeks to establish an ‘Integrated Plant Nutrition Management Authority of India’.
• It is aimed at promoting development and sustainable use of balanced fertilizers, including bio-fertilizers, nano-fertilizers, bio-stimulates, and organic fertilizers.
• It seeks to simplify the process for manufacturing production, distribution and price management of fertilizers across India. This will help in improving the ease of doing business.
• Central Government would be able to fix maximum prices or rates at which any fertilizer may be sold by a dealer, importer, manufacturer, or fertilizer marketing entity.
• It also aims to empower Centre to fix different rates or prices for fertilizers having different periods of storage or for different classes of consumers or for different areas.
• No person would be able to manufacture, import for sale, sell, or market without obtaining appropriate registration.