TAC warns of pesticide threats in India trade deal

The Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) has warned that the UK-India free trade agreement (FTA) could leave British farmers facing unfair competition and environmental risks from India’s use of pesticides banned in the UK.

In July 2025, trade minister Douglas Alexander asked the TAC – an advisory body assessing agricultural impacts of UK FTAs – to examine whether the deal maintains UK standards on animal health, welfare, and environmental protection.

While the commission concluded that the FTA would not legally require the UK to lower its food or environmental standards, it flagged major gaps between the two countries’ pesticide regimes and cautioned that the agreement could create indirect pressure to weaken domestic rules to stay competitive.

See also: What a trade deal with India could mean for UK agriculture

The TAC report (PDF) notes that India permits the use of 118 Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) – 62% more than the UK, which bans 73.

Several of these substances, such as atrazine, chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, acephate and paraquat, are prohibited in Britain due to their toxicity to bees, aquatic life, and risks of soil and groundwater contamination.

While the TAC did not evaluate human health effects, it recognised significant environmental concerns associated with the UK-India FTA.

Consultees, including the environmental group Pesticides Action Network UK (PAN UK), highlighted that the agreement could create indirect pressure on the UK to approve or reapprove pesticides currently banned domestically, potentially undermining goals in the 25-Year Environment Plan and UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025.

The commission also cited evidence that up to 30% of pesticides used in India may be counterfeit or illegal, posing even greater environmental and safety risks.

These practices, it said, could lower production costs for Indian farmers, giving them a potential competitive advantage over UK producers adhering to stricter standards.

Tariff liberalisation could further increase imports of fruit, vegetables, wheat, onions, carrots, sugar and apples – all produced domestically in the UK – raising the risk of imported residues from chemicals banned in British agriculture.

Border risks

The report warns that weak border controls could undermine UK food and environmental standards, also noting that World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules prevent the UK from blocking imports solely due to environmental harm overseas.

The TAC report also highlights concerns over animal welfare practices in India’s dairy industry, alongside widespread and poorly regulated use of antimicrobials that could exacerbate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and undermine UK food safety and welfare standards.

Liz Webster, founder of campaign group Save British Farming, said the TAC’s findings showed the trade deal “opens the door to food produced with pesticides, antibiotics and welfare practices that would be illegal here”, leaving UK farmers “competing on an uneven field” and consumers exposed to “deregulation by stealth”.

Government response

A UK government spokesman said: “We reject the premise of these claims.

“Where Indian products do not meet UK food safety standards, they aren’t eligible for import to the UK. The TAC advice is clear that nothing in the agreement undermines this.

“Imports are held to the same strict food safety standards as food produced in the UK, and this is a deal that will bring benefits to UK workers and consumers while not compromising our standards.”