Question : Use of Banned Pesticides

(a) whether the Government has taken note that certain banned pesticides are used for production and artificial ripening of fruits, vegetables and other crops which have an adverse impact on human health, soil and livestock;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has conducted any study to identify the level of pesticide residues in the fruits, vegetables and other crops;

(d) if so, the outcome thereof; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ban the use of harmful pesticides in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) to (d): The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level” (MPRNL) scheme, under which food commodities are collected and analyzed for the presence of pesticide residues. During 2012-18, a total of 1,21,944 samples have been collected and analyzed, out of which 2,878 (2.4 %) samples were found exceeding Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Maximum Residue Level (MRL). No residues of the banned pesticides have been detected in food commodities under MPRNL Scheme.

(e): The Registration Committee, constituted under Section 5 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 registers pesticides after considering its efficacy and safety to human beings, animals and environment. In additions, technical reviews are carried out from time to time to assess the safety of pesticides for their continued use. Based on this, the Government, inter alia, has banned the use of 40 pesticides for use in the country.

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