An environmental organization in Argentina is calling for an immediate ban on the import, manufacture and sale of endosulfan, a highly toxic insecticide that the country plans to eliminate in July 2013. The Center for the Protection of Nature, which forms part of the “Stop Fumigating” campaign, is seeking support for a legislative bill to immediately prohibit the insecticide’s use.

“Given the consensus on how hazardous the substance is, it is unreasonable to continue allowing it to be used until July 2013,” the Center stresses.

The vice president of the organization, Carlos Manessi, told Tierramérica that the bill, drafted by legislator Antonio Riestra’s staff, is an outcome of the anti-fumigation campaign, which has been demanding the ban.

The fact that endosulfan use continues to be permitted is “highly incongruous,” said Manessi. “It would seem that they want to wait until it has all been sold before they ban it, because business takes priority over people’s health,” he commented.