Argentina confirms to phase-out endosulfan by 2012

Argentina plans to phase out the organochlorine insecticide endosulfan. The National Animal Health and Agri-food Quality Service (Senasa) of Argentina has issued Resolution 511/2011 on 5th August banning import of endosulfan and its formulated products from July 1st, 2012, the former deadline is July 1st, 2013. Companies that have registered the active ingredient and formulations may apply voluntarily removal of approvals before the deadline. In April, The Fifth Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in Geneva agreed to list endosulfan to its Annex A, with specific exemptions.

According to the Resolution, in the second half of 2011, the imports volume of endosulfan for each company may not exceed the average of the second semester imports of the last five years and not exceed 50% annual average for the past five years. New registrations of endosulfan-based products are prohibited from the effective date of the Resolution. Companies holding registrations of endosulfan-based products in December 31st, 2012 must produce an Affidavit of their existing stocks to Senasa.