Thiruvananthapuram: An expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court has ruled that the endosulfan (pesticide) stocks lying unused in the country can be used for two more years, sparking anger in Kerala, where several organisations have been pushing for a complete ban on the pesticide.
Many of the victims of indiscrete use of endosulfan are in Kasaragod and Wayanad districts in north Kerala, where the pesticide was widely used in cashewnut and other plantations.
The expert committee appointed by the apex court, however, said state governments had the right to prevent the pesticide’s use at their discretion. While allowing use for two more years, the committee has said no more fresh production of endosulfan would be allowed. Kerala and Karnataka were the only states arguing strongly against the use of endosulfan.
There were also complaints that endosulfan producer companies got more time to depose before the expert committee while those speaking against the pesticide were not allotted the same time.
Shares in India’s Excel Crop Care Ltd rallied as much as 16.6 per cent after a TV news channel reported the court’s verdict.
The Supreme Court had last year banned the manufacture and sale of endosulfan in the country, pending a report from the government-constituted committee to review the safety of the product.
The United Nations in June 2011 had added endosulfan to its list of hazardous industrial chemicals.
Excel Crop Care is India’s largest maker of endosulfan, a controversial pest killer often linked to health hazards, followed by state-run Hindustan Insecticides and numerous other small manufacturers.
“The expert committee has submitted its report to the Supreme Court today and a final hearing is scheduled on November 29,” Pradip Dave, president of the Pesticides Manufacturers & Formulators Association of India, said. Dave said he had not seen the report.
The panel’s report was not immediately available.
The court had earlier allowed exports of pending stocks of endosulfan, which is mostly shipped to Africa and Latin America.
— with inputs from Reuters
Many of the victims of indiscrete use of endosulfan are in Kasaragod and Wayanad districts in north Kerala, where the pesticide was widely used in cashewnut and other plantations.
The expert committee appointed by the apex court, however, said state governments had the right to prevent the pesticide’s use at their discretion. While allowing use for two more years, the committee has said no more fresh production of endosulfan would be allowed. Kerala and Karnataka were the only states arguing strongly against the use of endosulfan.
There were also complaints that endosulfan producer companies got more time to depose before the expert committee while those speaking against the pesticide were not allotted the same time.
Shares in India’s Excel Crop Care Ltd rallied as much as 16.6 per cent after a TV news channel reported the court’s verdict.
The Supreme Court had last year banned the manufacture and sale of endosulfan in the country, pending a report from the government-constituted committee to review the safety of the product.
The United Nations in June 2011 had added endosulfan to its list of hazardous industrial chemicals.
Excel Crop Care is India’s largest maker of endosulfan, a controversial pest killer often linked to health hazards, followed by state-run Hindustan Insecticides and numerous other small manufacturers.
“The expert committee has submitted its report to the Supreme Court today and a final hearing is scheduled on November 29,” Pradip Dave, president of the Pesticides Manufacturers & Formulators Association of India, said. Dave said he had not seen the report.
The panel’s report was not immediately available.
The court had earlier allowed exports of pending stocks of endosulfan, which is mostly shipped to Africa and Latin America.
— with inputs from Reuters
