New Delhi, April 8 Six agricultural input and fertilizer industry associations have written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him not to reintroduce a regulatory regime driven by inspectors for manufacturers and importers, warning that such a move would reverse key reforms and harm the state's ease of doing business.
The associations – Fertilizer Industry Association (SFIA), Indian Micro Fertilizers Manufacturers Association (IMMA), Pesticides Manufacturers & Formulators Association of India (PMFAI), Organic Agro Manufacturers Association (OAMA), Maharashtra Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (MBMA) and Indian Agro Inputs Manufacturers Association (IAIM) – expressed concern over reports suggesting the possible return of a regulatory framework that relies heavily on inspections.
Maharashtra had become the first state in the country to introduce a regulatory framework free of inspectors through a Government Resolution dated June 19, 2025, a reform widely welcomed by the industry for strengthening MSMEs and improving the business environment in the agricultural input sector.
The associations alleged that discussions on reversing the reform were held in October 2025 and January 2026 without adequate participation from key industry stakeholders, and suspected that the move was being driven by what they described as a "redundant inspector lobby" seeking to regain lost discretionary powers, a joint statement said.
Vijay Thakur of the OAM Association Maharashtra said the June 2025 resolution had dismantled "Inspector Raj" and warned that reverting to a regime that relies heavily on inspections would "reopen the door to corruption, extortion, and regulatory misuse" while subjecting compliant manufacturers to harassment.
Suhash Buddhe, representing IPNM SPC, a consortium of 10 agricultural input manufacturers and dealers associations, cautioned that mounting regulatory pressure would push genuine manufacturers to more industry-friendly states, such as Gujarat, leaving Maharashtra vulnerable to domination by unscrupulous players.
The associations urged the government to withdraw any proposal leading to the return of inspector-based oversight and reaffirmed their commitment to working with the state to support farmer welfare, agricultural productivity, and sustainable industry growth.