Endosulfan ban call inspired by European interests

Date:04-29-2011

The Indian pesticide industry has opposed listing endosulfan as a persistent organic pollutant (POP) under the Stockholm Convention, suggesting that the proposal is inspired by European agrochemical interests. endosulfan was manufactured and exported out of Europe for over 55 years.

There were no issues until 2001, when the sole European manufacturer (Bayer Crop Science) decided to phase out the product to promote their new products.

After this, the EU in 2005 withdrew all authorisations for use of plant protection products containing endosulfan on account of data supports by the inventor. Two years later, the same MNC stopped manufacturing endosulfan, while continuing with its sales. The same year, the EU sought its listing as a POP before the Stockholm Convention.

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 with 80% of the global market, which accounts for about 450 crore of its 5,200 crore pesticide industry. This is the reason the EU banned endosulfan to make way for patented products manufactured by EU nations.

endosulfan has been in use in India for 40 years. We consume around 12 million litres annually, of which more than a third is by AP, 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 in 2005? endosulfan was reviewed four times by central government committees and twice by the Kerala government. All gave a clean chit to endosulfan.

We have full sympathy for the suffering of people of Kasargod in Kerala and the government must find out the real reason for their health problems. BARC studies indicate high level natural radiation areas off Kerala's coast. After the Japan nuclear crisis, World Nuclear Association also indicates high level of background radiation in Kerala and in Chennai. Coastal Kerala also has vast amounts of thorium in its soil. This indicates endosulfan isn't the cause for health problems faced by people of Kasargod.