After all, India's share in the global endosulfan market is over 70 per cent with an annual production of 12 million litres valued at Rs 4,500 crore.
Exports of the chemical are valued at Rs 180 crore.
The Indian industry claims that endosulfan is soft on pollinators such as honeybees and beneficial pests such as ladybird beetle while killing harmful ones and, therefore, there is need for a ban.
In Europe it is said that endosulfan presence was found for over six months in soils and, therefore, there was justification in seeking its ban.
However, India responds by stating that under tropical conditions endosulfan degrades faster in the soil and its presence is not felt for more than 20 days. Says it varies across countries and geographic locations.
The other issue of banning endosulfan is that its substitute neo nicotinoids is three times costlier and has been found to harmful to pollinators. Currently, endosulfan costs Rs 250 a litre.
The Indian pesticide industry says that Europe is inspiring the ban as companies in the continent have decided to stop marketing the compound.
For over 55 years, European firms marketed endosulfan and no problem was found then.
