The world will be watching India during the Stockholm Convention meet in Geneva, from April 25 to 29 2011, to discuss a global ban on the pesticide Endosulfan. The Stockholm Convention deals with persistent organic pollutants. Endosulfan has attracted attention due to the fact that this insecticide is proven to be highly hazardous as it is persistent, bio-accumulative and capable of endangering human health. Endosulfan is being used in the production of cotton, cardamom, coffee, soy and mango.
No ban
India was the only member country to take a stand against the ban at the Sixth Meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to the Convention that recommended the ban last year.
India was the only member country to take a stand against the ban at the Sixth Meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to the Convention that recommended the ban last year.
Pesticide Industry
Indian manufacturers are the world's main producers; among them the government owned company Hindustan Insecticides (also a producer of the extremely hazardous pesticides Monocrotophos and DDT). India exports more than 50 percent of its Endosulfan production to 26 countries that are still allowing its use. Already 81 countries have either banned or decided to phase out Endosulfan completely.
Indian manufacturers are the world's main producers; among them the government owned company Hindustan Insecticides (also a producer of the extremely hazardous pesticides Monocrotophos and DDT). India exports more than 50 percent of its Endosulfan production to 26 countries that are still allowing its use. Already 81 countries have either banned or decided to phase out Endosulfan completely.
Endosulfan banned in Kerala
Interestingly, in the Indian state of Kerala, the sale and use of Endosulfan has been banned since 2004, recognizing the danger and severe human health risks of this persistent organic pollutant. The well-documented case studies (see also a recent article in the Economic and Political Weekly) of the many human health problems should encourage the government of India to support a worldwide ban. If not, India will isolate itself by promoting its pesticide industry, thereby continuing the endangering of peoples’ health and the poisoning of the environment.
Interestingly, in the Indian state of Kerala, the sale and use of Endosulfan has been banned since 2004, recognizing the danger and severe human health risks of this persistent organic pollutant. The well-documented case studies (see also a recent article in the Economic and Political Weekly) of the many human health problems should encourage the government of India to support a worldwide ban. If not, India will isolate itself by promoting its pesticide industry, thereby continuing the endangering of peoples’ health and the poisoning of the environment.
India is a, being a tropical nation, the intake pattern is also more skewed towards pesticides which included 52 percent of the whole pesticide consumption in FY10. Rice is the biggest bug sprays taking planets in Indian forming 19.8 percent of the complete bug sprays intake followed by cotton. Andhra Pradesh is the biggest pesticides taking state followed by Punjab and Maharashtra.
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