FSSAI proposes pesticide residue restrictions for tea, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed new Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for two pesticides, acetamiprid and imidacloprid, in tea.
• The draft Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026, specifies MRLs of 20 mg/kg for acetamiprid and 50 mg/kg for imidacloprid.
• The proposed limit for acetamiprid is lower than existing limits in Japan (30 ppm) and the United States (50 ppm).
• The imidacloprid limit is aligned with international Codex Alimentarius Commission standards.
• These regulations aim to establish clear benchmarks for food safety, facilitate compliance, and enhance monitoring and enforcement in the tea industry.

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Detailed Insights:

• The proposed MRLs are part of FSSAI's ongoing efforts to review and update pesticide residue standards based on scientific assessments and international practices.
• India's average pesticide use in agriculture is less than 0.5 kg per hectare, which is significantly below the estimated global average of 2.38 kg per hectare.
• The new limits are intended to provide greater regulatory clarity for tea growers, processors, businesses, testing laboratories, and enforcement authorities.
• FSSAI's mandate includes laying down science-based standards for food articles and regulating their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure safe food for consumption.
• Earlier regulatory measures by FSSAI also included the delisting of 13 pesticides identified as having higher toxicity, reflecting a continuous focus on consumer protection.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs): The highest concentration of a pesticide residue legally permitted in or on food commodities, established based on scientific risk assessments.
• Acetamiprid: A neonicotinoid insecticide used to control sucking and chewing pests, known for its systemic action and moderate toxicity to mammals.
• Imidacloprid: Another neonicotinoid insecticide, widely used against sucking insects and soil pests, which acts on the insect nervous system.
• Codex Alimentarius Commission: An international body that sets food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in food trade.