🌍 Why in News?
The 2025 Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions are being held in Geneva from April 28 to
May 9. One of the key issues on the agenda is the regulation of hazardous chemicals—particularly chlorpyrifos, a widely used but controversial pesticide.
🧪 What is Chlorpyrifos?
Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide classified as “moderately hazardous” by the World Health Organization (WHO).
While it remains approved in India for use on 18 crops, it has been banned in over 40 countries due to its toxic effects, including:
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Neurotoxicity
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Reproductive toxicity
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Brain damage in unborn children
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Environmental contamination due to high mobility
📢 Global and National Push for Action
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India is pushing for strict international regulation:
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Rotterdam Convention: Add chlorpyrifos to Annex III, requiring prior informed consent for international trade.
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Stockholm Convention: Include it in Annex A, aiming for a global ban, with limited exemptions.
👉 Why the Push?
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Proven health and environmental risks
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Safer alternatives are available, making a ban feasible and justified
🚨 Chlorpyrifos Use in India: Regulatory Concerns
A 2022 investigation exposed unauthorised use of chlorpyrifos and other hazardous agrochemicals like paraquat, highlighting gaps in monitoring and enforcement.
🏛️ Role of CIBRC (Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee)
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Operates under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
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Ensures regulation of insecticides for human, animal, and environmental safety
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Established: 1970
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Oversees: Import, manufacture, sale, and usage of insecticides in India
📜 Legal Framework: Insecticides Act, 1968
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Effective Date: August 1, 1971
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Accompanied by the Insecticides Rules, 1971
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Mandates central registration of all insecticides before use or trade
✅ Conclusion
As global attention sharpens on hazardous chemicals, chlorpyrifos has become a symbol of the urgent need for stronger pesticide regulations. With international conventions like COPs 2025 addressing this, India too faces pressure to align with global health and environmental standards. At Vashishth IAS Academy, we encourage aspirants to track such developments under Environment & Ecology, International Conventions, and Agriculture for UPSC Mains and Prelims.