What counts as a bio-stimulant in India?
A substance or micro-organism, or both, that stimulates a plant's physiological processes to improve nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutrition efficiency, crop quality and stress tolerance, regardless of its nutrient content. Pesticides and plant growth regulators under the Insecticides Act, 1968 are excluded. Bio-stimulants are regulated under the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985 and must be listed in Schedule VI before they can be manufactured or imported.
Key milestones
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| 23 Feb 2021 | S.O. 882(E) brings bio-stimulants under the FCO, with Clause 20C for quality regulation |
| 2021–2025 | Provisional G3 certificates allow interim sale while data is generated; validity extended several times |
| 8 May 2024 | S.O. 1963(E) (Third Amendment Order, 2024) adds “live micro-organisms, excluding bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides” as a category and introduces tracer molecules |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Provisional registration ends; only Schedule VI products remain marketable |
| Sep 2025 | 146 bio-stimulant products listed in Schedule VI (Government of India, PIB) |
The nine categories
| Category | What it covers | Typical active ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical extracts, incl. seaweed | Extracts from any plant, including red, brown and green algae | Primary and secondary metabolites, polymers, plant hormones |
| Bio-chemicals | Molecules produced in living metabolism, natural or synthesised | One or more biochemicals |
| Protein hydrolysates & amino acids | Peptides and amino acids from plant or animal proteins | Free amino acids, polypeptides |
| Vitamins | CoQ10 and vitamins A, B-group, C, D, E and K | The named vitamin |
| Cell-free microbial products | Extracts of non-pathogenic microbes without bio-control activity; CFU must be nil | Metabolites and hormones |
| Antioxidants | Enzymatic and non-enzymatic ROS scavengers | SOD, catalase, glutathione, polyphenols, carotenoids |
| Anti-transpirants | Molecules that close stomata or form a film on leaves | ABA, chitosan, kaolin, waxes |
| Humic & fulvic acids | Humic substances and their derivatives | Humic acids, fulvic acids, humin |
| Live micro-organisms | Added in 2024; excludes bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides | Declared microbial strains |
What the registration guidelines ask for
The data-requirement guidelines for Schedule VI registration (published as a draft) set out:
- Chemistry and bio-efficacy data for every product; toxicity data decided case by case by the Central Biostimulant Committee (CBC).
- Bio-efficacy trials at a minimum of three agro-ecological locations under ICAR institutes, agricultural universities or other recognised institutions, with dose levels agreed with the institution.
- Chemistry data from NABL-accredited or GLP laboratories. Data generated through recognised organisations can be shared by several manufacturers on legal terms, provided product equivalence is maintained.
- Toxicity by weight of evidence first, avoiding animal tests where justified; one species each of bird and fish can be accepted.
- No fortification with nutrients, chemicals or pesticides. Naturally occurring elements from extraction are considered case by case.
- Tolerance limits of ±5% for listed active ingredients, and ±10% for botanical, seaweed and cell-free microbial products.
- Efficacy must not come from nutrients: trials should include a nutrient-equivalent treatment to prove it.
- Analysis: humic and fulvic content by ISO 19822:2018; complex extracts characterised by LC-MS/MS or GC-MS/MS.
Read the complete guidelines on our bio-stimulant registration procedure page, or see how we take a product to Schedule VI on our bio-stimulant registration service page. Unsure whether your product is a bio-stimulant or a plant growth regulator? See PGR registration.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bio-stimulant under the FCO?
Under the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, a bio-stimulant is a substance or micro-organism, or a combination of both, whose primary function when applied to plants, seeds or the rhizosphere is to stimulate physiological processes and enhance nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutrition efficiency, crop quality and tolerance to stress, regardless of its nutrient content. It does not include pesticides or plant growth regulators regulated under the Insecticides Act, 1968.
Can a bio-stimulant be sold without Schedule VI listing?
No. Only bio-stimulants specified in Schedule VI of the FCO may be manufactured or imported. The provisional G3 registrations that allowed interim sale ended on 16 June 2025.
Is toxicity data always required?
Chemistry and bio-efficacy data are necessary for every product. The draft guidelines leave toxicity data to the Central Biostimulant Committee case by case, based on history of safe use or safety data accepted by Indian or developed-country regulators, with a weight-of-evidence approach before any animal testing.
How many trial locations are needed for bio-efficacy?
The draft guidelines call for replicated trials at a minimum of three agro-ecological locations within the national agricultural research system, such as ICAR institutes and agricultural universities, with doses such as control, 0.5x, 1x, 1.5x and 2x decided with the institution.
Can nutrients or pesticides be added to a bio-stimulant?
No. The draft guidelines prohibit fortification with other nutrients, chemicals or pesticides. Efficacy trials should include a treatment with the equivalent nutrient content, to prove the benefit is independent of the nutrients.