India Faces Pressure Ahead of Global Chemical Summits in Geneva

“The world must no longer turn a blind eye to the scientific consensus on chlorpyrifos. Its link to neurotoxicity, irreversible brain damage in unborn children, reproductive toxicity and its ability to travel thousands of miles, contaminating even the most remote ecosystems, make a strong case for its global elimination,” Kumar stated.

PAN India plans to advocate for the inclusion of chlorpyrifos under Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention, which mandates prior informed consent before international trade of hazardous chemicals. The organisation also urged parties to the Stockholm Convention to list chlorpyrifos under Annex A — a designation that calls for a global ban.

While exemptions are typically allowed under this provision, PAN India pushed for a total ban, citing the availability of safer alternatives. Even though chlorpyrifos is approved for use on 18 crops in the country, a 2022 report had found unapproved and unauthorised use of dangerous agrochemicals like chlorpyrifos and paraquat across India.

The Stockholm Convention, adopted in 2001, aims to eliminate or restrict persistent organic pollutants — chemicals that remain in the environment, bioaccumulate in wildlife and humans and cause long-term ecological and health damage.

In addition to chlorpyrifos, delegates at the BRS COPs were expected to consider adding other pesticides, such as paraquat, acetochlor, carbosulfan, iprodione, methyl bromide and fenthion, to Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention. This step would strengthen transparency and accountability in the global trade of pesticides.

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