New Delhi | September 09, 2025
In a major step toward regulating the quality of biostimulant products in Indian agriculture, the provisional registration of biostimulants under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985 officially ended on June 16, 2025, as per the latest directive from the Government of India. From June 17 onwards, only biostimulants formally included in Schedule VI of the FCO will be allowed for manufacturing, sale, import, or stocking.
Background and Regulatory Framework
Before the inclusion of biostimulants in the FCO, the Indian market saw an unregulated surge of over 30,000 products, leading to concerns about quality, efficacy, and farmer safety. To address this, the government issued Notification No. S.O. 882 (E) on February 23, 2021, officially bringing biostimulants under the ambit of the FCO through the introduction of Clause 20C.
Under the FCO, a biostimulant is defined as a substance or microorganism (or a combination of both) that, when applied to plants or soil, enhances nutrient uptake, growth, yield, stress tolerance, and overall crop quality—distinct from pesticides or plant growth regulators governed under the Insecticides Act, 1968.
Biostimulants are categorized into nine groups, including:
- Botanical and seaweed extracts
- Bio-chemicals
- Protein hydrolysates and amino acids
- Vitamins
- Cell-free microbial products
- Antioxidants
- Anti-transpirants
- Humic and fulvic acids
- Live micro-organisms (excluding biofertilisers and biopesticides)
Provisional Registration and Its Expiry
To facilitate a smooth transition to the new regulatory regime, the government had initially granted provisional registrations (G3 certificates) to over 8,000 biostimulant products, allowing time for manufacturers and importers to generate mandatory data on bioefficacy, toxicity, and chemistry.
These provisional registrations were valid for two years and subsequently extended multiple times—till February 2023, then February 2024, again to February 2025, and finally up to June 16, 2025—based on industry requests. However, the government has decided not to grant any further extensions, making all provisional certificates invalid from June 17, 2025.
The official list of now-invalid provisional registrations is available on the Department of Agriculture’s website
Current Status: Only 146 Products Approved
As of now, only 146 biostimulant products have been officially approved and included in Schedule VI of the FCO, following scientific evaluation and notification in the Gazette of India. These approved products are listed on the Department of Agriculture’s website for public access and industry compliance.
Government's Focus: Quality, Farmer Safety, and Regulation
This move is part of the government’s broader initiative to promote safe, effective, and scientifically validated agricultural inputs, ensuring that only tested and approved biostimulants are made available to farmers. It is expected to significantly reduce the circulation of substandard products, enhance crop productivity, and support sustainable agriculture practices in the country.
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