The Anti-Endosulfan Campaign Committee, on Monday, launched its “third phase of agitation” to enforce blanket ban on the pesticide in the country.
In a function at Bovikkanam, Malayalam film actor Suresh Gopi declared formally launched the new phase of agitation.
Addressing the gathering, the actor said the country had of late initiated policies hostile to society and to the Earth. “Such evils should be nipped in the bud through active involvement of people,” he said.

DuPont said the Environmental Protection Agency has approved a new use for an insecticide trait for corn seeds that will fight above-ground pests only.

DuPont was ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday to stop selling and recall its Imprelis herbicide, following thousands of complaints that the treatment kills trees.

Kerala banned the use of 15 pesticides in May this year. However, about a dozen pesticides which were either banned or severely restricted in other countries continue to be used in Kerala, C. Jayakumar of Thanal (an advocacy organisation campaigning against pesticides) told The Hindu. Moreover, several of the banned pesticides are still in use and some of the alternatives suggested officially are pesticides banned in other countries.

Health Minister Adoor Prakash said here on Friday that the Government would be taking a strong stand in favour of ban on endosulfan. However, he parried questions whether the State government would implead as a party in case seeking ban before the Supreme Court.

Even as the Congress in Kerala has been spearheading a campaign against endosulfan, party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared as counsel for endosulfan manufacturers in the Supreme Court Frida

The Supreme Court on Friday said it did not have any objection to conditional export of “ready, available” stock of banned pesticide endosulfan but refused to permit further production.

The Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka today has granted permission to hear a petition filed on imported agro chemicals that contain arsenic.