Centre Withdraws Approval for Animal Protein-Based Biostimulants Citing Religious and Dietary Concerns

Months after approving 11 animal protein-based biostimulants for crops such as paddy, tomato, potato, cucumber, and chilli, the Union Agriculture Ministry has withdrawn approval for their sale due to “religious and dietary restrictions,” as reported by The Indian Express. These biostimulants are derived from animal sources, including chicken feathers, pig tissue, bovine hide, cod skin and scales, and various types of sardines. The Ministry’s decision follows complaints submitted to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan by individuals from Hindu and Jain communities, who raised concerns over ethical, religious, and dietary implications.

Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms, or combinations of both, that stimulate plant processes to improve nutrient uptake, growth, yield, quality, and stress tolerance. Unlike fertilizers, they do not directly supply nutrients, and unlike pesticides, they do not control pests. According to Fortune Business Insights, the Indian biostimulants market was valued at $355.53 million in 2024 and is projected to grow to $1,135.96 million by 2032. Major producers in India include Coromandel International, Syngenta, and Godrej Agrovet. Typically, biostimulants are sold in liquid form and sprayed directly on crops.

The Ministry’s withdrawal targets one of the most common types of biostimulants: protein hydrolysates, which are mixtures of amino acids and peptides formed by breaking down proteins. These hydrolysates can be derived from plants such as soy or maize, or from animal sources like feathers, hides, or tissues. The 11 withdrawn products were added to Schedule VI of the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order (FCO), 1985, earlier this year after being cleared by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). These products included formulations for crops such as green gram, tomato, chilli, cotton, cucumber, hot pepper, soybean, grapes, and paddy. ICAR Director-General Mangi Lal Jat confirmed that permission for these animal-source biostimulants has been “withheld.”

Jat explained that no new category of biostimulants, not already in the market, had been recommended for approval. However, to avoid ethical conflicts and comply with religious and dietary restrictions, the use of protein hydrolysates derived from animal sources in foliar sprays has been paused until proper pre-harvest interval data—indicating the safe period between spraying and harvesting—is available.

Before 2021, biostimulants were sold freely in India for over a decade without specific regulatory frameworks for safety, efficacy, or marketing. In 2021, the government brought them under the FCO, requiring companies to register products and demonstrate their safety and effectiveness. Despite the regulation, companies were allowed to continue selling existing products until June 16, 2025, provided they had applied for approval.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has consistently highlighted the unregulated proliferation of biostimulants in India. He noted that approximately 30,000 biostimulant products were sold unchecked for several years, with around 8,000 still in circulation over the past four years. Following stricter regulatory enforcement, the number of products has been reduced to roughly 650, reflecting the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure safety, compliance, and ethical adherence in the sector.

Overall, the withdrawal of approval for these 11 animal protein-based biostimulants reflects the government’s efforts to balance agricultural innovation with ethical, religious, and dietary considerations. The decision underscores the need for stricter oversight and proper scientific data to ensure that biostimulants are safe, effective, and socially acceptable in India’s diverse agricultural landscape.