Global endosulfan ban

The Parties to the Stockholm Convention have agreed to ban endosulfan… with an exemption of a 11 year phase out period, to get India agree to it too. The good news is that India accepted that the pesticide Endosulfan is a health hazard, and has agreed to support the development of cost-effective alternatives.

Isolated position

India has resisted the ban for years, claiming there was no solid proof that it impacted human health. At the convention India was completely isolated in its stand, especially when China supported the ban. It received a further setback when the Food and Agriculture Association (FAO) of the UN officially stated endosulfan is a hazardous pesticide.

Civil society campaign

Prakruthi congratulates all involved in the (inter-) national anti-endosulfan civil society campaign. The constant pressure by the POPs Elimination Network, Pesticide Action Network groups and many Indian organizations has pushed India over the edge. 

India's Pesticide Addiction: Endosulfan

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. 

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. 

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.