Move to ban Endosulfan attempt to benefit Euro industry: PMFAI

"Europe is a leader in the international chemicals trade which includes crop protection chemicals. This has been the motivation for European multinationals to replace low priced generics with their expensive patented alternatives.

"The move for banning Endosulfan, which is a generic product, is an attempt to benefit the European Crop Protection Industry," PMFAI President Pradip Dave told reporters here.

Endosulfan is the third largest selling insecticide worldwide and accounts for a global market in excess of 40-million litres valued at over USD 300-million. "The global crop protection market is valued at USD 40-billion and top three companies dominating this business are all European and account for over 50 per cent of the global market. This market share has been built with a strong focus on patented and propriety crop protection chemicals supported by strong regulations, driven by the European standards," he said.

The EU has been pushing for a global ban on Endosulfan by proposing its inclusion in the Stockholm Convention as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP). "Aggressive campaigning by the EU and environmental NGOs' supported and funded by the EU has resulted in a number of countries announcing a ban on the insecticide," International Stewardship Centre Executive Director, Charles Hanson, said.

Endosulfan is in the eye of storm in the battle of patented versus generic pesticide, Dave said. "Indian companies account for over 70 per cent 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 USD 1-billion. As a result, the insecticide is today in the eye of the storm in the battle of patented versus generic pesticides," Dave added.