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8. This Court has appointed Sri S.Niranjan Reddy, learned Senior Counsel, as amicus curiae, who has assisted this Court during the hearing and also filed a brief note on Ethephon. It has been stated that Ethephon is a chemical substance and is also known by its synonym 'Ethrel'. This is a substance, which is classified as dangerous and must be handled in a regulated manner. Ethephon is widely used as an insecticide across the globe and in the Indian context, the Insecticides Act also recognises 'Ethrel' (synonym for 'Ethephon') as an insecticide in the Schedule of the Insecticides Act read with Section 3(e) of the Insecticides Act. It has been further stated in the brief note that a perusal of the Rule 10C of the Insecticides Rules, Section 21(2) of the Food Safety and Standards Act as well as the Regulation 2.3.1 of Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011, makes it clear that an insecticide neither can be used on an article consumable by human being nor can it be stored next to an article consumable by human beings. Hence, using Ethephon, which is a recognised insecticide, on a fruit, which is consumable by human beings, is clearly contrary to the Food Safety and Standards Act and the Rules framed thereunder.

e. Remove the small plastic box containing the sachet after 24 hours."

12. Much has been argued before this Court that the Ethephon is a chemical substance and is used as an insecticide across the globe. It also finds place in the Schedule of the Insecticides Act read with Section 3(e) of the aforesaid Act. Reliance has also been placed upon the Rule 10C of the Insecticides Rules, which prohibits sale or storage of insecticides from the same building or place where any articles consumable by human beings are placed.