The Supreme Court today asked an expert panel appointed by it to explore the possibility of exporting the existing stock of banned pesticide Endosulfan here to other countries.
The apex court, which sought answers on various questions related to Endosulfan, also wanted to know from the expert body, how the quantity of the pesticide after exports could be destroyed without harming the environment.
A bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia asked the the Joint Expert Committee, consisting of the Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR) Director General and the Agricultural Commissioner, to find out the existing stock of the firms producing Endosulfan.
The expert committee would find out “what is the total quantity of the manufactured Endosulfan in various companies, firms, etc. in the country and what is the quantity of the manufactured stock of Endosulfan, out of the total quantity manufactured in India which can be exported in terms of the pending export orders”.
Further, the bench, which also consists of justices KS Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar, wanted to know from the joint expert committee to which countries could exports be made and on what conditions.
“In this connection, the committee will examine the relevant material, including international conventions, and suggest to us the conditions on which exports of the existing manufactured stock be made,” the bench said.
It said the vital question was about the quantum of the pesticide left after meeting the export order as it would require destruction of those keeping in mind the international convention and environmental concerns.
