Supreme Court allows Endosulfan export

New Delhi, Dec 13: The Supreme Court today (Dec 13) allowed export of unused stock of Endosulfan insecticide, while retaining the complete ban imposed by it in on its production, sale and use in the country.

While allowing the export, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia said the "dilution, packaging and export" of the agrochemical will be handled by public sector unit (PSU) Hindustan Insecticide Ltd.

The bench also said its previous order of September 30 in which it had proposed mechanism for packaging and export of the insecticide will be followed.

The court, in the last hearing on December 9, had sought explanation from CPI-M's youth wing Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), which has filed petition for ban on manufacturing of the insecticide, for objecting to the proposal for allowing the export.

"Why do you want the poison to remain in the country? There should be common-sense approach. If it can be exported, then let it happen," the court had said. The bench had earlier on September 30 allowed the company manufacturing Endosulfan to export nearly 1,100 tonnes of the pesticide to meet their contractual obligations while maintaining the ban on its use and production.

PTI