Pesticide manufacturers root for Endosulfan

The Pesticide Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India today alleged that the call for a ban on endosulfan was aimed at serving "vested interests" and termed it as a battle between "low priced generic pesticides" and "expensive patented alternatives".

Referring to reports that endosulfan was responsible for diseases in Kasargod district in Kerala, Pradip Dave, President of the Association, said several committees set up by the Centre to examine the issue had concluded that there was "no established link between endosulfan and the alleged reports of health problems in Kasargod, Kerala".

Even the Karnataka Government constituted expert committee had tabled a report in the Karnataka Assembly on April 14, 2005 which stated that the use of endosulfan was not responsible for the reported health problems, he said.

The association questioned the endosulfan study published by the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) and alleged the report was "flawed and misleading".

Dr S K Handa, Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said "In the NIOH study in Padre village in Kerala, no confirmatory data was generated, thus no decisions can be taken based on this report. Since there was no confirmation referring to presence of endosulfan in the report made by scientists in NIOH, endosulfan cannot be blamed for the diseases".

Handa claimed endosulfan was a "safe molecule" and as per WHO "does not possess properties to cause cancer or diseases as reported in Kasargod."

Hariharan, Chairman, International Stewardship Centre, said based on a proposal by the European Union, "endosulfan is being considered at the Stockholm Convention to be listed as a Persisted Organic Pollutant (POP)." India has rejected listing of endosulfan as POP.

"These conventions are being exploited by vested interest", serve European trade interest", he said and added "If endosulfan is banned it became easier for patented molecules to expand their market share".

The global crop protection market is valued at USD 40 billion. The top six companies, all multi-nationals, account for 75 per cent of the total market. The top three companies, all European, account for over 50 per cent of the total market. Over 67 per cent of the market is either patented or proprietary and less than 33 per cent is generic.

"There is a strong motivation for European multi-nationals to replace "low priced generics" with their "expensive" patented alternatives," said Hariharan.