Reviewing the Alternatives of Endosulfan

Since EU lost its share of the Endosulfan pie when it went generic decades ago, their recent promotion of patented pesticides is only part of its attempt to re-enter global pesticide trade. Since their attempts to compete with Indian Endosulfan producers and regain their lost markets did not meet with success, some of them are understood to have resorted to unfair trade practices. By churning out unfavourable stories surrounding Endosulfan through patronage to certain NGOs, the EU appears to be out to recapture their markets by any means possible. Now, in order to counter the affordability, utility and beneficial softness of Endosulfan, EU is engaging in illegal attempts to introduce Endosulfan as a Persistent Organic Pollutant in the Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions. They hope that a total ban will initiate a shift in global pesticide demand patterns.

Endosulfan is a broad-spectrum pesticide active ingredient that is sprayed on a range of 29 crops to protect them from about 60 types of pests. The most prominent benefit of Endosulfan over other pesticides, including those touted as its replacements, is that it is safe for beneficials and pollinators, such as honeybees. Endosulfan is the last pesticide in use that is recommended as a first-spray during pollination by agriculture scientists and entomologists worldwide. The replacement of Endosulfan would not only result in incalculable and irreplaceable harm to biodiversity and the agriculture ecosystem, but also present an additional cost of pollination to farmers. Since India became a prominent Endosulfan producer, India’s farmers have trusted its use in a variety of crops, especially coffee, tea and cotton. The states of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the top consumers of Endosulfan in India. More than 12 million litres of Endosulfan is used here per annum. In order to be popularly accepted, any substitute for Endosulfan will have to possess similar attributes.

Imidachloprid (Rs 2,000/litre), Thiamethoxam (Rs 3,200/litre) and Coregen (Rs 700/litre) are the pesticides promoted as replacements for Endosulfan. Presently, the Indian farmer spends Rs 250/litre for Endosulfan. Therefore, the obvious repercussion of a shift from using Endosulfan is the manifold increase in the cost of pest-protection. The next cost to emerge with the replacement of Endosulfan is that of the potential purchase of bee boxes. Bee boxes cost as much as Rs 90,000 for pollinating a 1-hectare field of crops in the absence of honeybees. Wherever Endosulfan has been substituted by more expensive alternatives like Neonicotinoids, it has resulted in the elimination of pollinators. Imidachloprid, the most popular Neonicotinoid is blamed for killing bees and is banned in France, Germany and Slovenia, among other European nations.

Affordability as a factor will be an impossible offering for patented pesticides from the EU. If the European agenda to free up a brand new market by banning Endosulfan meets success, farmers in developing nations and India in particular, will be left in financial ruin. If they consider options touted by local governments, they will have to rely on methods like organic farming. This means risking their produce for a method that if successful, may not possess the effectiveness for a required scale. News reports suggest that the present situation has now compelled farmers in Kerala, where Endosulfan is banned, to resort to smuggling the pesticide into the state in cans and bottles. The clash of ‘patented versus generics’ threatens to leave many such innocents in a lurch.

Will The Government Force Farmers To Commit More Suicides?

Agriculture, the principal occupation in India has been acutely inequitable to its practitioners over the last couple of decades. With former late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s credo ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ lain to waste, farmer suicides have since been the cause of much socio-economic debate. It is estimated that a farmer owning 15 acres of land and considered well-off has an income of just a little more than what he would have earned if he were to earn a yearly legal minimum wage. Budget 2010 earmarked considerations for automatic management systems and cold storage. Whether these will offer tangible relief to agriculture is still to be seen. Yet, it is becoming essential for the government to lay greater emphasis on the affairs of cultivation by developing adequate sensitivity to the support infrastructure required today.
A time bomb in the making is the issue of Endosulfan. Since India overtook the global production of Endosulfan, Indian farmers have reaped the benefits of the pesticide for a wide range of crops including cotton, tea and coffee. In use for almost three decades in India in the states of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, the beneficial-friendly, cost-effective farming pest-protection costs a farmer Rs 250/litre. In case of a ban on Endosulfan, Indian cultivators will be forced to purchase patented European pesticides at much higher prices. Imidachloprid, a product touted as a replacement to Endosulfan costs Rs 2,000/litre. Other alternative pesticides such as Thiamethoxam (Rs 3,200/litre) and Coregen (Rs 700/litre) are expensive as well. Unlike Endosulfan, most alternatives destroy much-needed honeybees and other beneficial populations required for pollination. It may force farmers to look for highly expensive alternatives for pollination. Besides, the alternatives to Endosulfan also develop resistance of use within 3–5 years of product introduction.
In India, farmers depend on naturally occurring colonies of honeybees and beneficials like ladybird beetle, chrysoperla, trichograma for the pollination of their crops. As they are naturally occurring, they play their part at no cost to farmers. Most of Endosulfan’s substitutes are harsh on bees and are therefore banned in many nations. Today farmers in countries where Endosulfan is banned depend on the use of bee boxes for pollination. Such bumblebees initiate pollination at a cost of US$1 per bee (approximately Rs 45). At that rate, it would cost Rs 90,000 for the Indian farmer to pollinate a 1-hectare field of crops in the absence of honeybees. Not only will the use of such pesticides result in almost a ten-fold cost increase for farmers, but also destroy the agro-ecosystem.
Today, NGOs and local polity in southern India are heavily espousing the benefits of organic farming in Kerala where Endosulfan has been banned. However, with limited financial resources to purchase costly pesticides or absorb losses from ineffective pest-control, cultivators do not have many options. Recent news reports suggest that the situation has now compelled farmers in the region to resort to smuggling the pesticide into the state in common cans and bottles.
Due to increasing costs being incurred by farmers and not enough returns, most of them are already debt-ridden. Some are already selling off valuable stretches of their fertile lands to industries and urban developers. With no substantial scientific evidence to prove the Endosulfan claims in Kerala and Dakshina Kannada, it is prudent to decide whether the whims of vested interests are significant enough to effect a change that is sure to impact India’s colossal farming population.


References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmers%27_suicides_in_India#cite_note-12
M Rajivlochan "Farmers and fire-fighters" in Indian Express, August 28, 2007

HEAR OUR VOICE – ENDOSULFAN WORKERS OF INDIA

Followed is a letter from the endosulfan workers to the Prime Minister of India asking to support their efforts in seking withdrawal of NIOH report:

We are the union of Endosulfan manufacturing units in India. We have been reading several media reports related to Endosulfan and its alleged linkage to many physical ailments in Kerala, India. Endosulfan was invented, manufactured, traded also used in Europe for 55 years. Endosulfan is a generic insecticide manufactured and supplied on large scale by India at most reasonable prices since last 10 years. Endosulfan is safe to pollinators and beneficial insects and is one of the largest generic pesticides in use worldwide. Over 45 million litres of Endosulfan is used globally with an on farm value in excess of US$ 300 million (Rs.1350 crore). It is widely used in agricultural economies such as India, China, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, etc. 

There have been allegations that exposure to Endosulfan is causing abnormal human health effects, birth defects, infertility, and a host of other illnesses. Most of these allegations have originated from Kasargod in Kerala where such abnormalities have been reported. The same allegations have also been made from Belthangady taluka in Karnataka. The phtograph of Shruti, a child with abnormal birth defects has been used as proof in both Kerala and Karnataka. All problems in Kerala are alleged to be happening due to aerial spray of Endosulfan. It would be interesting to know that there are no problems relating to aerial spray of Endosulfan anywhere in the world. It is extensively applied by aerial application in several countries and there are no reports of birth defects anywhere else. There are no problems health problems anywhere in India where Endosulfan is extensively used.

 In India alleged reports linking endosulfan to physical problems have been repeatedly investigated. Six committees appointed by the Government of India have concluded that there is no evidence linking Endosulfan to physical ailments. Endosulfan has undergone trial by media for over 8 years. Inspite of this a few NGO’s led by Ms Sunita Narain of CSE (Centre for Science and Environment) and Thanal and supported internationally by PAN (Pesticide Action Network), EJF (Environment Justice Foundation) and I-PEN (International POP’s Elimination Network) have used the internet and media to generate negative public perception against Endosulfan by repeatedly publishing gruesome photographs of children with abnormal birth defects. When eminent scientists like Dr M S Swaminathan, who is on the Board of CSE, also lend their voice supporting a call for a ban on Endosulfan without understanding the scientific facts and without choosing to talk to us, what do we do? There is extensive funding by the European Union to these NGO’s with an objective of forming pressure groups which in turn serve the interests of European business. Why should we lose our jobs just because their economy is under pressure?

We represent the Endosulfan family in India. We are 6000 families directly supporting over 24,000 persons and lakhs of farmers in India. We have had direct exposure to Endosulfan while working at the factory and the farmers while using them in the farm. Some of us have been exposed to Endosulfan for over 20, 25 and even 30 years. Yet none of us have had any health problems. We are ready to offer samples of our blood for testing to prove that Endosulfan does not cause any health issues. Among us are also Endosulfan workers from Kerala who are ready to offer their blood for testing. These workers, our brothers from Kerala are in constant fear as none of the elected representatives dare challenge the position orchestrated by the NGO’s. They are in fear of trial by media. 

Endosulfan has polarized the world opinion in the debate on generic versus patented chemicals. The European Commission few years ago decided to nominate Endosulfan for inclusion in Rotterdam Convention under Prior Inform Consent (PIC) and in 2007 for inclusion in Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Based on the recommendation of POP Review Committee, the Stockholm Convention’s Conference of Parties is expected to decide on its listing as a POP during their meeting in April 2011. The estimated replacement value of Endosulfan is expected to be over US$ 1000 million (Rs.4500 crores).

Endosulfan has been proposed by EU for a ban citing precautionary measure for its impact on human health. EU-funded environmental NGOs and lobby at the international trade related conventions such as Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions have extensively quoted judgments based on a study titled “Report of the investigations of unusual illnesses allegedly produced by Endosulfan exposure in Padre village, of Kasargode district (N. Kerala)” made by National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmadabad.  

We have learnt that fundamental flaws in the NIOH study have been observed by scientists and lawyers. To understand the errors, several applications were made by experts under the Right to Information Act.  We have also learnt that NIOH did not respond to request for parting with raw data until the intervention of the Chief Information Commissioner, the appellate authority at the NIOH. The case was heard at the Information Commission and it took two orders by the Chief Information Commissioner for NIOH’s appellate authority to finally handover the 1700 pages of raw data. Experts examined the raw data and learned that the analysis conducted by NIOH had laboratory flaws beyond any doubt. The NIOH study has been referred to widely in international conventions and by regulatory authorities worldwide in seeking a ban on Endosulfan.

We are hurt. Our experience and our opinion are not even being considered. We have no option but to protest and let our voice be heard by the representatives that we elected to represent us in the Government. There are 6000 workers engaged in manufacturing of Endosulfan and lakhs of farmers who have a tangible experience of working with Endosulfan. The NGOs have failed to address this experience of farmers and workers of Endosulfan. On November 15, 2010 about 10000 families representing the workers as well as farmers walked a silent protest to present a memorandum to District Collector, Bhavnagar district – demanding immediate withdrawal of the NIOH report. The families were supported by the local Member of Legislative Assembly – Mrs Vibhavari Dave and the Member of Parliament – Mr Rajendra Sinh Rana.

Mr Rana has not only supported the workers by joining them in the rally but for the past one year has made several representations to the Prime Minister - Dr. Manmohan Singh, Minister of Environment & Forests – Mr Jairam Ramesh and Ministry of Health – Mr Gulam Nabi Azad seeking immediate action and withdrawal for the flawed report by NIOH. 

Please support our efforts in seeking a withdrawal of the NIOH report on Endosulfan by writing to the Prime Minister of India. Please help us to let our voice be heard.

Endosulfan: Safe on Human Beings

Endosulfan has been certified by World Health Organisation (Switzerland) and Food & Agriculture Organisation (Italy) to not cause cancer, birth defects, or any hormonal imbalance on contact.

It is also the opinion of the United Nations Environment Programme, International Labour Organisation, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and the US Environmental Protection Agency and California Department of Pesticide Registration, that Endosulfan has no carcinogenic potential.

The pesticide does not persist in the environment, and its degeneration is faster in tropical and sub-tropical climates. It degenerates from consumption by micro-organisms in soil, in sunlight, as well as in water. It is unlikely to persist in the human body as it is continually degraded by metabolism to a lesser state of hazard.

New Zealand Food Safety Authority noted on its website, “Endosulfan has shown no potential to accumulate over time in animals. It is more water soluble than other organo-chlorines… and is less persistent in the body because it metabolises quickly. The chemical is extremely unlikely to have an effect in humans at any level of intake that is likely to occur through food residues.” Endosulfan was even introduced in USA for veterinary purposes in 2006 to stop parasite problems in cattle bred for meat and milk.

A study was conducted in Kasargod, Kerala by the Fredrick Institute of Plant Protection and Toxicology (FIPPAT) of Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu in 2001. Mr Pradeep Dave, President, Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India announced the finding that except for marginal deposition in soil (0.001–0.012 mcg/gm) and leaf (0.040–2.893 mcg/gm), no residue was found in samples of human blood, cow milk, fish or water. 112 samples of residents from the age group of 3–70 years were collected along with 90 leaf, soil and water samples, and transported to the FIPPAT facility under strict supervision. The residue estimation was conducted as per Good Laboratory Practices.

In a study conducted by TS Kathpal of the Haryana Agricultural University, India, it was found that Endosulfan dissipates in soil to an extent of 92–97 per cent during the first four weeks after its application (Pesticide Science, 1997, 50 21-27). Endosulfan degrades rather faster in tropical and subtropical environment. It degrades through consumption by micro-organisms present in soil, chemical breakdown under the impact of sunlight (photolysis) and chemical reaction with water (hydrolysis).

According to a ‘Pesticide Information Project’ of Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University and University of California at Davis, transport of Endosulfan is most likely to occur if it is attached to soil particles in surface runoff. However, it is not expected to pose a threat to groundwater. Their study also revealed that in raw river water at room temperature exposed to light, both of Endosulfan’s isomers disappeared in four weeks.

Source: http://whybanendosulfan.org/human-health.htm

NIOH failed to verify the final analysis of Endosulfan residues

PMFAI defends Indian government’s position on Endosulfan

At a media briefing held by the PMFAI, speakers questioned the flawed study conducted and published by National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH), Ahmedabad. The study titled “The Final Report of the investigation of unusual illness allegedly produced by Endosulfan exposure in Padre Village of Kasargod district (N. Kerala)”, has been the root cause for the demand for a ban on the pesticide Endosulfan.  An expert panel examined the unscientific and implausible aspects of the NIOH’s study. The flaws have been exposed through the RTI query and the masked raw data evoked public outrage when ten thousand people drew a rally in Gujarat seeking withdrawal of the flawed report. Over thousand workers in Kochi held a rally recently to seek justice for the unfairly stigmatized staff at the government run HIL plant in Kerala.

As per the international norms prescribed by the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR), it is mandatory for residues to be reported as identified only after performing “confirmatory test” of each sample. “Different chemicals may appear in the same peak due to similar retention time leading to wrong reporting. However, in the NIOH study in Padre Village in Kerala no confirmatory data was generated, thus NIOH report on Endosulfan is incorrect and misleading. No decisions can be taken based on this report.” said Dr S K Handa. He further added “since there was no confirmation referring to presence of Endosulfan in the report made by scientists at NIOH, Endosulfan cannot be blamed for diseases in Kerala.”    Dr. S K Handa pointed out that Endosulfan is a safe molecule and as per World Health Organisation (WHO) and does not possess properties to cause cancer or diseases as reported in Kasargod, Kerala. Dr Handa is a Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, has over 35 years of research experience in pesticide residues and was former WHO consultant, Ministry of Health, Government of India. He was All India Coordinator for pesticide residues, has authored several books on pesticide residue analysis and has published 120 research papers.

Mr. Pradip Dave, President, Pesticide Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) indicated that several expert committees were set up by the Government of India and all of them concluded that there is no link established between Endosulfan and the alleged reports of health problems in Kasargod, Kerala. He added, “Even Government of Karnataka constituted an expert committee of very senior scientists. A detailed report was submitted in October 2004 stating that the use of Endosulfan was not responsible for the reported health problems. The report was table in the Karnataka Assembly on April 14, 2005 and accepted.”

Based on a proposal by the European Union, Endosulfan is being considered at the Stockholm Convention, to be listed as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP). India has rejected listing of Endosulfan as a POP due to lapse in proceedings, gaps in scientific data and lack of transparency which have been observed, reported and protested by India and other member countries. Endosulfan was invented in Europe and was manufactured and used across the entire region for over 55 years.

Clarifying the status of Endosulfan in USA, Mr. Charles Hanson – Executive Director, International Stewardship Centre clarified that “Endosulfan is not banned in the USA. It was a voluntary withdrawal by the manufacturer and sole registrants and a fall out of a congressional mandate to conduct cost prohibitive product testing for over 64 chemicals, one of which is Endosulfan. Citing small user market in USA, huge investment in research, mounting pressure and uncertainty at the international conventions, the manufacturer chose to avoid any further studies and opted for a voluntary withdrawal of Endosulfan.” There is concern amongst the farmers as USA has not found alternatives for all uses of Endosulfan. While various alternatives have been suggested as a possible replacement, many of these are known carcinogens, toxic to pollinators such as honey bees and are banned in countries like Germany and France.

EU’s move to ban Endosulfan to benefit European Crop Protection Industry

The Pesticide Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) held a press conference today and invited speakers who pointed to European Union’s (EU) role in steering proceedings at international chemical conventions. The Stockholm Convention has been exploited by European Commission to further its trade interests as world market leader in crop protection chemicals. A push for elimination of the generic pesticide Endosulfan will directly promote the use of patented alternatives and benefit European multinationals.
The meeting was addressed by senior members from the International Stewardship Centre Inc. (ISC) – a non-profit organization registered in Washington D.C. that holds an observer status at these conventions. Along with ISC there was participation from Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) which is focused on advancing the cause of Indian farmers through better crop protection. The speakers shared their experiences and highlighted the current status of Endosulfan and the proceedings that are likely to impact India and its agriculture in the months ahead.

Speaking to the press, Mr. Pradip Dave, President – Pesticide Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) gave an overview of the international chemical trade. “Europe is a leader in the international chemicals trade which includes crop protection chemicals. The global crop protection market is valued at over US$ 40 billion. The top three companies which dominate this business are all European and account for over 50% of the global market. This market share has been built with a strong focus on patented and proprietary crop protection chemicals supported by strong regulations, driven by the European standards.” “This has been the motivation for European multinationals to replace “low priced generics” with their “expensive patented alternatives”, added Mr. Dave.

The European Union (EU) has been pushing for a global ban on Endosulfan by proposing its inclusion in the Stockholm Convention as a Persistent Organic Pollutant. As an observer at the Stockholm Convention, Mr. Charles Hanson - Executive Director of International Stewardship Centre Inc. shared that, “Aggressive campaigning by the EU and environmental NGO’s supported and funded by the EU, has resulted in a number of countries announcing a ban on Endosulfan.” Echoing the EU call, the Chemical Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention recommended the listing of Endosulfan as a Persistent Organic Pollutant despite significant data gaps and without a clear consensus on the decision.

Endosulfan is the third largest selling insecticide worldwide. Invented in Germany over 55 years ago, today it accounts for a global market in excess of 40 million liters valued at over US$ 300 million. Mr. R. Hariharan – Chairman, International Stewardship Centre Inc. (ISC) shared, “Indian companies account for over 70% of this market which has come at the cost of the European manufacturers. The replacement value of Endosulfan by patented alternative is estimated to be in excess of US$ 1 billion. As a result, Endosulfan is today in the eye of the storm in the battle of “patented” versus “generic” pesticides.”

 Source: Business Standard http://bit.ly/endosulfantruth