The Supreme Court today allowed export of unused stock of Endosulfan insecticide while retaining the complete ban imposed by it in on its production, sale and use in the country. While allowing the export, a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice S. H. Kapadia said the dilution, packaging and export of the agrochemical would be handled by public sector unit (PSU) Hindustan Insecticide Ltd.

The Bench also said its previous order of September 30, in which it had proposed mechanism for packaging and export of the insecticide, would be followed.

The Court, in the last hearing on December 9, had sought explanation from CPI-M's youth wing Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), which has filed petition for ban on manufacturing of the insecticide, for objecting to the proposal for allowing the export.

The Bench had earlier on September 30 allowed the company manufacturing Endosulfan to export nearly 1,100 tonnes of the pesticide to meet their contractual obligations while maintaining the ban on its use and production.

The apex court had on August 5 asked an expert panel appointed by it to explore the possibility of exporting the unused stock of Endosulfan manufactured in the country. The expert committee had recommended its export