Provided is a herbicidal composition comprising a herbicidally active compound selected from a difluoromethanesulfonylanilide compound represented by the general formula (I): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxyalkyl group; or a salt thereof encapsulated in a microcapsule, or a herbicidal composition comprising the herbicidally active compound encapsulated in a microcapsule and a benzoic acid compound represented by the general formula (II): wherein R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, a hydroxyl group, a nitro group, or an amino group; and R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom or an alkyl group. The herbicidal composition exert a pharmacological effect for a prolonged period of time, can alleviate or prevent any harmful effect and can reduce the environmental load.