Key Highlights
- India opposes inclusion of Chlorpyrifos in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention, arguing that a ban would threaten food security due to scarce alternatives.
- The international community, including the EU, UK, and Norway, largely backs a phase‑out, while some African states request narrowly defined exemptions.
- Scientific assessments in 2024 highlight Chlorpyrifos as persistent, bioaccumulative, and a potent neurotoxin that interferes with acetylcholinesterase.
Detailed Insights
The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) conventions convened in Geneva from April 28 to May 9, 2025, brought the debate to the forefront. India's opposition stems from a long‑standing position that pesticidal use must not compromise domestic food supply chains. Though the World Health Organization labels Chlorpyrifos as moderately hazardous, the pesticide remains officially registered for use on rice, cotton, sugarcane, groundnut, mustard, brinjal, cabbage, and onion, among other staples.
In contrast, the 2024 POPs Review Committee (POPRC) pushed for Annex A listing based on persistent environmental transport and accumulation in food webs. The committee cited a 2024 nationwide food‑contamination survey in which Chlorpyrifos was detected in 33% of tested samples—a figure that stands as the highest among all agrochemicals studied in India that year.
Despite strong evidence, India has historically opposed the elimination of other organophosphates, most notably following the 2010 endosulfan debate. The country’s position is further complicated by its status as one of the world's largest chlorpyrifos producers, combined with a reliance on smallholder farms that lack ready substitutes.
Key Concepts
- Chlorpyrifos – an organophosphate insecticide widely applied in agriculture, known for its neurotoxic effects.
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants – an international treaty aiming to eliminate or restrict persistent pollutants.
- Annex A – a listing category that mandates complete elimination of specified chemicals.
- Acetylcholinesterase – an enzyme inhibited by organophosphates, leading to impaired neural signaling.
- POPs – persistent organic pollutants that remain in the environment and biomagnify.