New Delhi, August : The Government of India has strengthened the fertilizer quality testing mechanism under the Fertilizer (Control) Order (FCO), 1985, introducing a transparent multi-level testing process to ensure accuracy in quality assessment and provide a fair opportunity for manufacturers, dealers, importers, and marketers to challenge non-standard test results.

The revised provisions, which came into effect following amendments to the FCO on December 13, 2024, establish a structured system for second and third analyses of fertilizer samples in cases of disputes over quality.

Under the existing procedure, Fertilizer Inspectors collect three samples during inspections. One sample is handed over to the concerned dealer, manufacturer, importer, pool handling agency, or marketer, the second is sent to a designated laboratory for analysis, and the third is retained by a designated authority appointed by the State Government.

If the initial laboratory report declares a fertilizer sample as non-standard, the concerned party may apply for a second analysis within 15 days of receiving the report. The application must be accompanied by the prescribed fee and the sample originally provided by the Fertilizer Inspector.

The State Government's designated authority then forwards two samples—one submitted by the concerned party and the other retained in its custody—to the National Test House (NTH), Ghaziabad Coding Centre, for referee testing at any of its laboratories located in Ghaziabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, or Jaipur.

The report issued by the National Test House is generally treated as final. However, if the first and second analyses declare the sample non-standard on different quality parameters, the State Government must suo motu send the remaining sample to the Central Fertiliser Quality Control and Training Institute (CFQCTI), Faridabad, for a third analysis, whose findings are considered final.

The government clarified that if the concerned dealer, manufacturer, importer, pool handling agency, or marketer does not seek re-analysis within the prescribed 15-day period, the findings of the first laboratory become final. Likewise, if both the first and second analyses identify the sample as non-standard on the same parameter, no third analysis is conducted, and the second analysis report is treated as final.

According to official data, the National Test House received 3,906 fertilizer samples for second analysis during 2025-26, of which 2,128 samples were found to be standard, while 1,778 were declared non-standard. During 2026-27 (up to June 2026), the NTH analysed 578 samples, with 321 found standard and 257 classified as non-standard.

For third-level testing, the Central Fertiliser Quality Control and Training Institute (CFQCTI), Faridabad, received 1,078 samples during 2025-26. Of these, 215 samples met quality standards, while 863 were confirmed as non-standard. During 2026-27 (up to June 2026), the institute analysed 223 samples, reporting 51 as standard and 172 as non-standard.

The Fertilizer (Control) Order also prescribes strict timelines for testing and communication of results. The State Government must forward samples to the National Test House within three working days of receiving a request for referee analysis. The NTH is required to complete testing within 15 days of receiving the sample and communicate the results promptly.

Where a third analysis becomes necessary, the designated authority must send the sample to CFQCTI, Faridabad, within three working days. The institute must complete the analysis within 15 days of receipt and communicate its findings within three working days of generating the report. The designated State authority must then inform the concerned party within three working days of receiving the final report.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the government's efforts to ensure transparency, consistency, and accountability in fertilizer quality regulation across the country.