Monday, January 31, 2011

European Union's strategy in banning Endosulfan


European Union had produced and used Endsoulfan for 55 years until they discontinued it due to low profitability. In order to replace the undisputed demand in the global endosulfan markets with their patented products, they played up a strategy which even went to the extent of creating fradulent scientific studies to funding NGO's to create noise against endosulfan.
It's high time we raise our voice against the super powers and prove the power of truth!
http://www.whybanendosulfan.org/

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Kerala’s pesticide puzzle


Twice every year, between 1981 and 2000, a helicopter would whirr around the hills of the Western Ghats in Kasargod, a district in north Kerala bordering Karnataka, spraying endosulfan over the cashew plantations on the upper reaches. Children would rush out to take a look at the helicopter and the white spray would settle like mist on their heads and on leaves and shimmer in the sunlight. But that’s also when people associated the mist with something deadly—the unusually high number of people with infertility and congenital problems in 11 panchayats in the district.
In 2000, after a sustained anti-endosulfan campaign, the state government banned the pesticide. But the issue stayed alive and images of the ‘pesticide victims’ from Kasargod villages filled the public debate in the state. Recently, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and the Congress’s MP from Kochi, K V Thomas, reignited that debate when he said there was no proof to hold the pesticide guilty for the health hazards in Kasargod. Thomas’s comment came soon after India opposed a global ban on endosulfan at the sixth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to the Stockholm Convention. But the issue is an emotive one in Kerala and Thomas quickly changed his stand to go with the prevailing mood.
Last week, the Indian Council for Medical Research commissioned a study to look into the extent of the damage the aerial spraying of endosulfan over 4,696 hectares of cashew plantation, owned by the state-run Plantation Corporation Kerala Limited, had done to the surrounding villages.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Fabricated False Evidence against Endosulfan


Activists have created stories and have fabricated false evidence against Endosulfan. Obviously they were funded for carrying out campaigns against Endosulfan. 

Many useful products like Endosulfan have become off-patent today, in due course of time. As anyone can manufacture these products, there is competition in the market. Consequently, these products have become available at an affordable price, and poor consumers are benefited. But some companies launch a campaign against such off-patent products through activists, with a view to prejudice people and impose a ban on such products. The result will be that, the off-patent products will be off-market. On one hand, the consumers will suffer as they will have to pay high price for patented products, and on the other hand, the small industry will also suffer, as the off-patent products which they manufacture will be banned with the help of activists.

Symptoms of iodine deficiency wrongfully linked with Endosulfan


Symptoms of iodine deficiency include thyroid enlargement, goiter, nodules within goiter, and pregnancy related problems such as miscarriages, stillbirth, preterm delivery and congenital abnormalities in babies. Children of mothers with severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy can have mental retardation, problems with growth, hearing and speech, cretinism and low intelligence. 
These effects are NOT caused by Endosulfan, but it is due to iodine deficiency. 

Read more on the website of American Thyroid Association. http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/iodine_deficiency.html#symptoms

Monday, January 24, 2011

Down To Earth [DTE] Publishes Unscientific Articles


Down To Earth publishes unscientific articles on Endosulfan. This magazine has also published in past a lab report on analysis of Endosulfan carried out by Centre For Science and Environment [CSE] lab. In said report, CSE has reported amount of Endosulfan 27 times higher than its scientifically established solubility in filtered water. Study conducted by CSE was funded by European Union. Activists
If such horror story entertains you, there is another one at: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/32919
Another Kasaragod
Author(s): Savvy Soumya Misra
Issue: Jan 31, 2011
The article starts with "Like Kerala’s Kasaragod, neighbouring Dakshina Kannada is bearing the brunt of spraying of endosulfan. While Kasaragod grabbed media spotlight and Kerala banned the pesticide, victims in Karnataka are still struggling for recognition"
The expert committee constituted by Government categorically concluded that there is no link between Endosulfan and alleaged health effects in Kasargod.
Now desparate attempts are made through DTE magazine to deceive public. The article states:
"If one cannot prove endosulfan as a causative factor, one cannot disprove it either."
Media has selectively picked up only such horror sensationalizing stories which are not based on science.

European Union Exploits Stockholm Convention


Driven by trade interest, EU is pushing Endosulfan for POP listing
Elimination of Endosulfan is expected to severely impact pollination and India’s farming

India is today the second largest producer of horticulture crops (fruits at vegetables) and annually produces over 215 million mt (2008-09 figures source Ministry of Agriculture). This is almost as much as India’s total food grain production of 235 million mt (2008-09 figures source Ministry. of Agriculture). India’s export of fresh fruits and vegetables was Rs 3659 crores during 2008-09 (source APEDA). India ranks fifth in the world in cropped area under cultivation and production of potatoes. India produces 40% of world’s mangoes, 26 %bananas, 18 % cashew nuts, 28 % green peas and 12% onion.

Endosulfan is a plant protection chemical used by farmers for more than 55 years to control pests during the early phase of cultivation and particularly during pollination. It is widely used by farmers in India as a broad spectrum insecticide soft on pollinators and beneficial insects. Besides cross pollinating our food crops, Honey bees are vital links that forge the bio diversity of the environment. Endosulfan is used extensively in cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Today India is the largest producer of Endosulfan and accounts for over 70% of the global trade of this product.

The European Union is pushing the Stockholm Convention to bring about a global ban on Endosulfan by spearheading a campaign to list Endosulfan as a Persistent Organic Pollutant. All decisions taken against Endosulfan at the Stockholm Convention have been without consensus and in spite of lack of full scientific certainty and significant data gaps.

While considering the EU proposal to list Endosulfan there were serious procedural lapses:

  • The text of the convention, their articles and rules were not followed
  • The process was not transparent
  • There was conflict of interest as European Union the notifying party for Endosulfan also prepared the risk profile
  • The proposals to recommend Endosulfan lacked scientific merit and decisions were taken despite significant data gaps.

  • India’s protest and dissent notes were ignored and all the decisions relating to Endosulfan were taken by voting in spite of serious objections from India, China, Argentina and other countries.


 

The European Union (EU) is pushing India and the global community to stop use of Endosulfan as it has proposed listing of Endosulfan as a persistent organic pollutant, in spite of lacking full scientific certainty. If Endosulfan is banned farmers will need to find replacements and will be forced to use expensive patented and proprietary molecules produced by European multinationals. Farmers in India will be forced to use alternatives like neonicotinoids in spite of it being banned in parts of Europe.

To create a climate for ban on Endosulfan in India, the EU funded lobby of environmental NGO’s has generated various studies and surveys to link Endosulfan to incidences of  human health effects and have stigmatized Endosulfan by unleashing a false propaganda against Endosulfan in the  media.

World Health Organisation (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have all classified that Endosulfan does not cause cancer, is not genotoxic or mutagenic.
  
Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) held a Press Conference in an effort to support India’s position on Endosulfan at The Stockholm Convention and invited Mr R Hariharan, Chairman International Stewardship Centre (ISC), an observer at The Stockholm Convention and Mr Anil Kakkar, Director Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) to share their experiences.

Shri Pradip Dave, President of Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI), expresses fear that India’s Food Security would be at stake if the use of Endosulfan is banned.” An industry issue, it is gaining more ground as a political issue, where facts or fundamentals have no considerations. Under any circumstances, if the Government bans the use of Endosulfan in the country, the farming community and the country’s food security will be adversely affected, he added.

With the growing population of India and to meet the basic needs of the masses, it is becoming essentially vital and important that agricultural production keep pace with the increase in population. This is the only way to feed more than billions people without being dependent on imports.

A very few plant protection products actually qualify for Integrated Crop Management system,  Endosulfan is one such product which is not only effective in controlling pests but also helps in improving the productivity of crops/plants without being harsh on the environment.

Shri Hariharan, Chairman of International Stewardship Centre (ISC) said that “Currently, the worldwide usage of Endosulfan is estimated at 40 million litres, which makes it one of world’s top five generic agricultural insecticides. The trade in Endosulfan today is in excess of US$ 300 million (Rs 1350 crores) and its replacement value is estimated to be in excess of US$ 1000 million (Rs 4500 crores). Endosulfan’s popularity as a broad spectrum generic insecticide soft on pollinators and beneficial insects has resulted in its safe use for over 55 years. Today India is the largest producer of Endosulfan and accounts for over 70% of the global trade in Endosulfan. As a result it’s caught in a cross fire in a battle between “generic” insecticides produced by Indian companies vs. “patented” insecticides produced by European multinationals”.

Shri Anil Kakkar, Director of Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI), further added that Endosulfan is one of the most widely used pesticides in India. Indian farmers have been relying on Endosulfan to protect their crops since several years. The climatic conditions and the pest complex in India are very different that Europe and the use of products like Endosulfan are well suited for tropical countries like India. Banning the use of Endosulfan can impose serious threat to pollination and on its resultant effect on our food security. Replacing Endosulfan with other patented costly plant protection products will increase the cost of pest management for Indian farming community, which may increase food prices and aggravate inflationary pressure”.

About Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI):
It came into existence in the year 1967 as Pesticides Formulators of India with a view to provide a platform for small scale Pesticides Formulators. It was subsequently changed in 1997 as Pesticides Manufactures & Formulators Association of India. The members of PMFAI include multinationals, large-medium and small scale basic manufacturers & manufacturers of intermediates required for Pesticides. PMFAI also organises various training programmes and seminars for the Indian Pesticide Industry and also circulate to members the recent developments as regards to regulatory affairs which are time to time changed by State and Central Governments.

International Stewardship Centre, Inc.:
 The International Stewardship Centre (ISC) is a non-profit corporation, with roots in the early 1990s it was created for the purpose of educating, promoting and encouraging safety in the manufacture, transport, distribution, storage, use and disposal of chemical substances. ISC works through its member companies with both end users and governments in sharing product stewardship information. Its membership consists of manufacturers of industrial chemicals and insecticides. By the nature of its charter, member companies of ISC are committed to the safe use of chemicals. ISC supports the stated principles of the Stockholm Convention in which it has been granted observer status and has followed closely the deliberations and developments at its various meetings. 

Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI):
 It is one of the oldest and foremost associations. CCFI is a non-profit, non-commercial organization, endeavoring to build a responsible image for the agrochemical industry Most of the leading pesticides manufacturers and formulators are its members. As a committed and progressive body representing the Indian agrochemical industry, CCFI has pursued its focal goal of advancing the cause of Indian farmers through better crop-protection. 

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Endosulfan is safe to bees and beneficial for insects

Endosulfan exhibits low toxicity to bees and beneficial insects http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp41-c4.pdf ). 
Endosulfan has relatively low toxicity to many species of beneficial insects, mites and spiders. These insects are beneficial in the sense that they prey upon pests which damage crops. Hence it is important that the insecticide used to kill pests is not unsafe to these beneficial insects. Other chemicals, necessarily substituted for endosulfan, would kill beneficial insects leading to population explosions of damaging pests which in turn would require more frequent sprays of harsher chemicals than if endosulfan had been used in the first place.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Vested interests in demanding ban on endosulfan: PMFAI

Domestic pesticide makers today said that the demand for banning endosulfan pesticide in India is being driven by vested interests of Multinational firms.

"The demand for banning endosulfan in India, is motivated by the vested interest of Eurpean pesticide makers, who are interested in promoting their patented products in the country,"Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) President Pradeep Dave told media here.

European companies, which have vested business interests are lobbying for imposing an international ban on endosulfan as the ban would create a market for their products in the third world countries, he said.

Dave added that endosulfan is being used in the country for the last 50 years and there has been no such scientific records available, which indicate that the use of this chemical has resulted into serious health hazards of any kind.

International Stewardship Centre, an NGO working for chemical industry, said that replacing endosulfan with any other chemical would be at least 10 times costlier for the Indian farmers.

"A litre of endosulfan costs Rs 250 to Indian farmers whereas any chemical manufactured by multinational would cost more than Rs 2,500 per litre thus making the use of pesticides 10 times costlier,"International Stewardship Centre Chairman R Hariharan said.

Source: Press Trust of India (PTI)
H/T India Reports [India Reports | Vested interests in demanding ban on endosulfan: PMFAI ]

HIL workers at Kerala Endosulfan plant seek probe into NIOH study

Over 300 workers from the Hindustan Insecticides Limited plant manufacturing Endosulfan near Kochi at Kerala organised a rally today to oppose the unscientific approach adopted by environmental NGOs to seek ban on Endosulfan.

The workers demanded that their own experience and the farmers’ experience be taken into consideration as they work with the pesticide Endosulfan. Endosulfan was manufactured and used for more than 50 years across the world and continues to be in use in many countries without any ill effects to humans or environment. Endosulfan has proved to be harmless to beneficial insects and pollinating agents such as honey bees etc. It is among the top five insecticides in the world. In relation to Endosulfan’s use inside India the workers argued that Endosulfan would have shown its harmful effects elsewhere in India as it is extensively used across the country on crops such as cotton, sugarcane, spices, vegetables, fruits, etc. Millions of Indian farmers have been using Endosulfan for over 35 years and continue to use it as it has been cost effective and safe.

Speaking during the dharna, one of the workers’ representatives pointed out that Kerala had stopped use of Endosulfan in 2002 and it is strange that the harmful effects were brought to light only recently. Endosulfan was sprayed across 10000 acres of Cashew crops throughout Kerala, prior to the ban - had Endosulfan been the cause of physical problems inside Kasargod, the Kerala state should have witnessed similar cases elsewhere as well.

The workers’ representatives added that studies conducted by Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad, Achuthan Commission, Kerala Agriculture University, IMA, Dubey Committee have concluded of no linkage between use of Endosulfan and the reports of health problems to the use of Endosulfan on the health problems reported at the Kasargod district of Kerala. All these studies have been conducted as recently as in the last eight years. It is their demand that, rather than ensuing a new study on the pesticide Endosulfan, it will be relevant to seek an independent investigation into the flaws observed in the study which was released by the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH).

The NIOH study was adopted by NGOs for propaganda against the generic pesticide Endosulfan since year 2002. To prove this point, the workers demanded that their blood samples be tested to validate against the published findings in NIOH report. The workers also made observations that the campaign against Endosulfan led by environmental NGOs like Thanal is suspect on their motives in the backdrop of studies conducted by other bodies. Based on unscientific approach, the demands made by local NGOs should not be taken into account for considering such a serious decision affecting our country’s agriculture and food security.

There are over 6000 workers employed in the manufacturing of Endosulfan in various plants of India and 400 of these workers are employed in the HIL plant.

H/T Business Standard Story [Link]