Global Call to Ban Chlorpyrifos

• 01 May 2025

Source: DTE 

Why in News? 

The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions in Geneva proposed the banning of toxic pesticide Chlorpyrifos by listing it under Annex A of Stockholm Convention (complete global ban without exemptions). 

• However, India opposed the move, citing the absence of viable alternatives and the potential threat to food security. 

What is Chlorpyrifos? 

• About: Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate (formed by esterifying phosphoric acid with alcohol) insecticide used in agriculture, public health to control pests like termites, mosquitoes, and roundworms.  
  • It works by inhibiting an acetylcholinesterase enzyme essential for nerve function, affecting both target pests and non-target species, including humans. 
• Health Impact: Exposure (via skin, inhalation, or ingestion) can cause headache, nausea, dizziness, muscle cramps, and in severe cases, paralysis and breathing difficulty.  
  • It forms a toxic byproduct (chlorpyrifos oxon) in the body, which causes these effects. 
• Environmental impact: It persists in soil for weeks to years, breaks down slowly in acidic conditions, and may contaminate water bodies through erosion.  
  • It is highly toxic to birds (e.g., robins, mallards), fish, bees, and earthworms, and can bioaccumulate in the food chain. 
• Usage in India: 
  • Chlorpyrifos, a widely used pesticide in India (9.4% of total insecticide consumption in 2016-17) has been registered under the Insecticides Act since 1977.(IPEN Report) 
    • Classified as moderately hazardous by WHO and a possible carcinogen by EPA, its residues are found in produce, water, blood, and breast milk.  

What is the Stockholm Convention? 

• About: The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a global treaty adopted in 2001 and came into force in 2004. Its main goal is to protect human health and the environment from (POPs). 
• Key Features: 
  • Annex A: Elimination of listed chemicals  
    • Eg: Aldrin, Chlordane, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor,Hexachlorobenzene, Mirex, Polychlorinated biphenyls 
  • Annex B: Restriction of listed chemicals 
  • Annex C: Reduction of unintentional release of listed chemicals 
• Financial Mechanism: The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) serves as the designated interim financial mechanism for the Stockholm Convention, supporting developing countries in implementing its obligations. 
• India and Stockholm Convention: India ratified the Stockholm Convention in 2006. To regulate Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the MoEFCC notified the 'Regulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants Rules, 2018' under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 

What are POPs?

• About: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are toxic, carbon-based chemical substances that persist in the environment for long periods, resist degradation, and accumulate in living organisms. 
• Health & Environmental Impacts: Can cause cancer, immune suppression, neurotoxicity, reproductive disorders, and endocrine disruption and its exposure leads to both acute and chronic effects, even across generations. 
  • Bioaccumulation: POPs accumulate in the fatty tissues of living organisms over time. 
  • Biomagnification: Their concentration increases as they move up the food chain, affecting top predators and humans. 
• Examples: 
  • Endosulfan: Banned in many countries; known for endocrine disruption. 
  • DDT: Banned for agriculture in India but still used for vector control (e.g., mosquito fumigation in malaria-prone areas). 
    • Others include Aldrin, Dieldrin, PCBs, and Toxaphene. 

Click Here to Read: Basel Convention and Rotterdam Convention 

 

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year’s Question (PYQs) 

Q. Consider the following pairs: (2016)

	Terms sometimes seen in the news	Their origin
1.	Annex-I Countries	Cartagena Protocol
2.	Certified Emissions Reductions	Nagoya Protocol
3.	Clean Development Mechanism	Kyoto Protocol

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? 

(a) 1 and 2 only 
(b) 2 and 3 only 
(c) 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (c) 

Q. Consider the following statements: (2016)

1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the ‘Club of Rome’. 
2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 

Ans: (b)