ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) has decided to bring 34 branded pesticides on the generic list after expiry of their patent rights. A notification to this effect has been issued.
Federal Minister for Food Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hayat Bosan here on Wednesday said that this was a major decision, which would allow pesticides to be imported by the registered pesticide importers without any discrimination.
The move, he said, would help in reducing the pesticides' prices to affordable level for the benefits of the growers and would encourage rational use of pesticides. Currently, he maintained, pesticide worth Rs10 billion were being imported annually. Following is the list of 34 branded pesticides brought on the generic list: