Global Call to Ban Chlorpyrifos Gains Momentum Ahead of Geneva Summit
Criticising political resistance to pesticide regulation, Jago Wadley of PAN UK added, “Countries must stop blocking listings for commercial reasons and follow the science.”
Hyderabad: Chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to irreversible brain damage in children and banned in over 40 countries, has “no place in modern agriculture” and must be globally phased out without exemptions, experts warned.
Speaking at a virtual media briefing organised by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India ahead of a major global environmental conference — the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions — scheduled in Geneva from April 28 to May 9, PAN India chief executive officer A.D. Dileep Kumar said, “The world must no longer turn a blind eye to the scientific consensus on chlorpyrifos. The time for decisive action is now.”
He highlighted how the chemical, still used on a variety of crops in India, is linked to neurotoxicity, reproductive damage, and environmental contamination across borders.
Other speakers, who include public health researchers, policy experts, and campaigners, also concurred with him, and demanded its global ban.
Apart from chlorpyrifos, the conference will debate the regulation of other high-risk pesticides, including paraquat, methyl bromide, iprodione, and carbosulfan.
“India must choose a path that prioritises health over chemical dependency,” said C. Jayakumar, executive director of Thanal. “Non-chemical alternatives exist, and farmers deserve safer options.”
Criticising political resistance to pesticide regulation, Jago Wadley of PAN UK added, “Countries must stop blocking listings for commercial reasons and follow the science.”
Dr Narasimha Reddy Donthi, a public policy analyst, said national governments must replicate global conventions with robust domestic review mechanisms. “India needs real-time monitoring, defined targets, and greater institutional capacity to track hazardous chemicals.”
