Chlorpyrifos Secures Five-Year Exemption at Stockholm Convention COP-12 Amid Strong Backing from India
05 May 2025, New Delhi: The Twelfth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-12) to the Stockholm Convention, held in Geneva from April 28 to May 9, 2025, has granted a five-year specific exemption for the production and use of Chlorpyrifos—a broad-spectrum insecticide used widely in agriculture, animal health, and termite control in building foundations.
The exemption comes in response to the European Union’s proposal, made in 2021, to list Chlorpyrifos under Annex A of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), which would have banned its global use. The Pesticides Manufacturers & Formulators Association of India (PMFAI), representing the Indian agrochemical industry, played a pivotal role in opposing the ban, with active support from the Government of India.
PMFAI highlighted critical concerns such as the lack of viable and cost-effective alternatives, socio-economic conditions of farmers in developing countries, and increasing insect resistance to newer pesticide molecules. The association pointed out that most currently available alternatives to Chlorpyrifos are significantly more expensive—ranging from USD 7 to USD 72 per spray per hectare—compared to Chlorpyrifos, which costs between USD 2.4 and USD 12 per spray per hectare.
India’s case for opposition was further strengthened by the country’s unique tropical climate, which accelerates the degradation of Chlorpyrifos in soil, water, and air, reducing its environmental persistence. The Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has implemented strict guidelines for safe usage, including precautionary labeling and recommendations for personal protective equipment (PPE) and mechanized application methods.
The exemption was justified by India and other countries on the grounds of essential need for Chlorpyrifos in controlling a wide range of pests across critical crops. These include termites in sugarcane and wheat, white grubs in groundnut, cutworms in chickpea and cotton, diamondback moth in cabbage, shoot and fruit borers in brinjal, root grubs in onion, and stem borers and leaf folders in rice. India also cited the lack of long-range transport (LRT) evidence from tropical and subtropical regions, countering one of the key environmental concerns raised by EU stakeholders.
The Stockholm Convention COP-12 finally approved the continued use of Chlorpyrifos under specific exemptions for 18 crop–pest complexes including rice, maize, wheat, sugarcane, onion, peanut, barley, cabbage, chickpea, cotton, pineapple, and rapeseed. The exemptions also cover use against locusts, ticks in cattle, leaf-cutting ants in agriculture, and wood preservation against borers and termites in construction.
The country’s representation at the convention included scientific, regulatory, and industry perspectives, which contributed significantly to the consensus on the exemption.
Despite the decision, PMFAI expressed concern over ongoing misinformation campaigns led by certain EU-based NGOs and media outlets. “This decision serves justice to the farming community across the world,” said Mr. Pradip Dave, President, PMFAI. “It reflects a balanced approach towards environmental safety and agricultural sustainability, especially in countries with limited resources.”
Also Read: Post-Harvest Field Management and Safe Grain Storage: Essential Practices for Farmers – IARI Advisory
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