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State of chlorpyrifos, fipronil, atrazine, and paraquat dichloride in India

New report reveals serious problems of pesticide usage in India and points to poor regulation of hazardous agrochemicals. The current use pattern is implicated in widespread unauthorised uses of chlorpyrifos, fipronil, atrazine and paraquat in India, posing threat to food safety and environmental contamination. A new report titled ‘State Of Chlorpyrifos, Fipronil, Atrazine And Paraquat Dichloride In India’ is released in a workshop titled ‘Hazardous Pesticides in India: Health and Food Safety Concerns’ organised at, the PWD mini conference hall, Thrissur, reveals a dangerous situation of use and regulation of four pesticides in India. This research report was developed by Pesticide Action Network India, a national non-profit organisation, exclusively working on pesticide related issues in the country. This report addresses regulation and use of four highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) in India based on field study conducted in seven Indian states, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Telangana and West Bengal. This study gathered information on pesticide usage and health effects from 300 respondents including farmers, farm workers and pesticide retailers.