A joint expert committee on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the manufacture and use of pesticide endosulfan may be permitted for two years so as to exhaust the available stock. In a written response to queries posed by the court, the committee — comprising Director General of Health Services and Member Secretary of Central Pollution Control Bureau — asserted that India, being a signatory to Stockholm Convention, was committed to discontinue the use of endosulfan over the next five years. It said almost all the countries which banned endosulfan had a phase out plan over a period of two to six years which ensured that all stocks available were utilised and exhausted completely within a time frame. “Taking into considerations all the facts, the committee felt that to exhaust the available stocks of the raw material, manufacture and use of endosulfan may be permitted for two years,” it said. The panel, in its report, said, “The manufacturing and marketing companies should be asked to completely exhaust the available raw material during this period and ensure that this pesticide is fully utilised in accordance with label claim and good agricultural practices for pest control.” A Bench, led by Justice Swatanter Kumar, will take up the report on November 29.