Toxic differences persist over ban decision on monocrotophos pesticide

The industry is lobbying for total relaxation of a three-year-old veto but wants lethal chemical proscribed; civil society demands an extension of the ban

Ahead of the Supreme Court (SC) hearing scheduled for April 28 on the controversy over a ban on 27 pesticides, a section of industry has questioned the basis on which monocrotophos, considered one of the most harmful pesticides for human health, has been included in the list of 24 on which a ban was lifted by a draft order issued in February 2023.

But civil society representatives are questioning the draft on a very different ground. They are arguing that the move to dilute the original ban order on all 27 pesticides is wrong and overlooks several key factors.

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