Pesticide makers oppose endosulfan ban moves

The Indian pesticide industry has opposed listing of endosulfan as a ‘Persistent Organic Pollutant' (POP) under the Stockholm Convention, suggesting that the proposal is inspired by European agrochemical interests.

"endosulfan has been manufactured and exported out of Europe for over 55 years. There were no issues over its use until 2001, when the sole European manufacturer (Bayer CropScience) also decided to phase out the product from its portfolio,” said Mr R. Hariharan, Chairman of the International Stewardship Centre, a New York-based body representing generic pesticide makers around the world.

Following the particular manufacturer's move, the European Union (EU), in 2005, withdrew all authorisations for use of plant protection products containing endosulfan. Two years later, the same multinational stopped manufacturing endosulfan, even while continuing with its sales. The same year, the EU sought listing of endosulfan as a POP before the Stockholm Convention.

coincidental

"All these actions may be coincidental. But there are, no doubt, strong business interests which wouldn't mind if farmers are forced to replace endosulfan, which is an affordable and generic insecticide, with costlier proprietary molecules. It is purely about patented-versus-generic pesticides,” Mr Hariharan told presspersons here on Wednesday.

endosulfan is the world's third largest-selling generic insecticide, with a 40-million litre-plus market valued at over $300 million. India is the world's No. 1 producer and exporter of endosulfan, which accounts for about Rs 450 crore of its Rs 5,200-crore pesticide industry (see graphic).

The Stockholm Convention, to which India is a signatory, requires parties to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment. While a POP Review Committee of the Convention, in October, agreed on categorising endosulfan as a POP, a final decision would, however, be in the hands of a Conference of Parties in April 2011.

Favouring bar

In the meantime, some 60 countries, including the 27 EU members States and 21 in Africa, have favoured banning the agrochemical.

"These economies account for hardly 12 per cent of the total global endosulfan consumption. Some of them, especially in Africa, have no choice, as they export cocoa and other farm products to the EU,” Mr Hariharan added.

On the other hand, India, China and Argentina have come out strongly against the proposed ban.

"endosulfan costs just Rs 240-250 a litre, whereas farmers will have to pay 3-4 times more for substitutes. Moreover, it is soft on pollinators such as honey bees, while being beneficial for lady bird beetle, chrysoperla, trichograma and other friendly insects,” said Mr Anil Kakkar, Vice-President of Excel Crop Care Ltd – a major endosulfan producer along with Coromandel International and the public sector Hindustan Insecticides Ltd.

Mr S. Ganesan of the Indian Chemical Council dismissed reports of adverse human health in Kerala's Kasargod district linked to endosulfan poisoning.

"endosulfan has been in use in India for over 40 years. We consume around 12 million litres annually, of which more than a third is by Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal. When no such harmful effects have been reported from these and other major consuming States, how can endosulfan cause problems in Kerala, which, even at its peak, was consuming a few kilolitres,” he said.