What was the dispute between Syngenta and Crystal?
As original registrant of the formulation in India, Syngenta sourced the technicals from its Swiss parent and had provided critical data for three years in order to receive provisional registration. However, it wanted the agriculture ministry to ask Crystal to supply three years of ground data afresh after the expiry of its provisional registration, when we applied for a permanent registration in 2007. Syngenta’s contention was that since the source was different, the government should not grant permanent registration without altogether fresh ground data. The appeal was, however, dismissed by the Delhi High Court on July 1. The case, Syngenta India Ltd vs Union of India, highlighted the fact that MNCs use their market monopoly to sell crucial pesticide molecules (raw materials for pesticide manufacture) at astronomical prices to Indian farmers, having first secured them against forays by Indian companies. What made you take on Syngenta? MNCs account for 30-40% of the Indian pesticide m
