Biostimulant Makers Face Compliance Heat Under New Fertiliser Rules

New Delhi, Sep 1 (KNN) The fertiliser sector specialising in biostimulants is facing fresh regulatory pressures following the February 2025 amendment to the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO). 

Previously unregulated, biostimulants now fall under strict controls—driving up compliance costs and threatening the survival of many small-scale manufacturers.

According to Rajib Chakraborty, President of the Soluble Fertiliser Industry Association (SFIA), the industry was caught off guard. 

“The industry is not fully ready to adopt the new regulations… Many small SMEs … will be wiped out in the process,” he warned, citing inadequate digitization, manpower, and resource gaps.

The new rules require all biostimulant formulations to undergo testing at approved institutions and gain clearance from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). 

Thousands of products currently on the market are yet to receive approval, creating a substantial regulatory backlog.

Clarifying recent misconceptions, Chakraborty noted that reports of an outright ban on biostimulant sales were inaccurate. Instead, the government intends to integrate biostimulant specifications into the FCO and allow phased approval and sales.

Despite these upheavals, the specialty fertiliser category—which includes soluble, organic, micronutrient, and stimulant products (collectively SOMS)—continues to grow robustly, with an 18% year-on-year compound annual growth rate. 

These products are widely used in crops like cotton, soybeans, and wheat, with SFIA members engaging directly with over 1,000 farmers each annually.

In summary, while oversight of biostimulants marks a vital stride toward rationalised farming inputs and farmer clarity, the pace and expense of enforcement may force smaller players out. 

The sector now faces the dual task of aligning with regulation while sustaining growth.

(KNN Bureau)