Defining Biostimulants

As per the order, biostimulants are defined as substances or microorganisms, or a blend of both, designed to stimulate plant physiological processes. They enhance nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutritional efficiency, crop quality, and stress tolerance, irrespective of their nutrient content when applied to plants, seeds, or the rhizosphere.

• Biostimulants are different from pesticides and plant growth regulators, which fall under the regulatory purview of the Insecticides Act of 1968.
• Examples of biostimulants include substances such as trace minerals, beneficial fungal and bacterial species, compost tea, and seaweed extracts.

The New Guidelines for Biostimulants

• Schedule VI of the Fertiliser Control Amendment Order 2021 necessitates the listing of any biostimulant that is imported or manufactured.
• The FCO Amendment Order is a government-sanctioned biostimulant regulation issued in 2021, placing India among a select few countries with specific regulations for biostimulants.
• As per the FCO Amendment Order, biostimulants must be registered and their efficacy proven before they can be marketed.
• The draft guidelines mandate the submission of complete study reports for the registration of biostimulants. The data submitted should be authentic, replicable, usable, and of high quality.
• The data required for registration includes information on the identity of biostimulants, risk assessment data for humans and the environment, efficacy data, and packaging and labeling requirements.
• The Central Bio-stimulant Committee (CBC) will review the toxicity data of biostimulants on a case-by-case basis.
• Data generated from recognized scientific research organizations can be used by multiple manufacturers under legally acceptable terms and conditions.
• The draft discourages animal testing and may grant waivers based on scientifically sound rationale and literature published in reputable journals/reports.
• The guidelines strictly prohibit the fortification of biostimulants with any other nutrients or chemicals.