ISLAMABAD, March 15: A 5-point pesticide policy was approved at a meeting of stakeholders held here on Monday. The meeting was presided over by the federal minister for food, agriculture and livestock.

The representatives of Crop-life, Pak Protection Association, Kissan Board, Plant Protection Department and provincial agriculture departments attended the meeting.

The meeting recommended the establishment of manufacturing and formulation of pesticides industry by rationalizing duties and taxes and by providing incentives as well as rationalizing of duties on the import of end product as compared to intermediate products, elements and ingredients. The meeting also recommended the imposition of sales tax at source in line with fertilizer and cement.

"As policy measures and on approval, provincial governments and district governments would be asked to provide assistance and extension service for judicious use of pesticides and for encouraging its balanced use in line with Integrated Pest Management programme."

The meeting further recommended the rationalization of registration of patented products on Form-17 and registration of generic pesticide on Form-16. Speaking on the occasion, the minister asked the associations to send their comments on the proposed amendments on the Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance (APO), 1971.