Question : PESTICIDES IN FOOD PRODUCTS

(a) the permissible level of pesticide fixed for various food products such as fruits, vegetables, pulses, milk etc. in the country and those fixed by the European Union, the United States of America, Britain and Australia;

(b) whether the norms and permissible level of pesticides are different in the country than those fixed in European Union and other countries;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has recently reviewed the permissible levels of pesticides in consumables; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 273 FOR 19TH AUGUST, 2011

The permissible Maximum Residues Limits (MRLs) for various pesticides in various food articles including fruits, vegetables, pulses, and milk etc. have been laid down within safe level of intake under Chapter 2 of the Food Safety And Standards (Contaminants, Toxins And Residues) Regulations, 2011, which came into force on 5.8.2011.

The MRLs for different pesticides for different food articles fixed by European Union(EU), the United States of America, Britain and Australia, which run into thousands of pages are available on their websites i.e. http://ec.europa.eu/sanco_pesticides/public/index.cfm?event=substance. selection&amp/-.

MRLs for pesticides are fixed on the basis of food habits, dietary intakes, Good Agricultural Practices, agro-climatic conditions in and optimum use of pesticides for controlling pests on the crops in a country. Therefore, MRLs permitted in USA, UK, Australia etc can not be compared with that in India.

Fixation of MRLs of pesticides and its review in different food articles in the country are an ongoing process. These limits are recommended/ prescribed/reviewed within safe level of daily intake on the basis of indigenous residue data generated as per Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), waiting period, average food consumption in the country, average body weight and Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) established on the basis of toxicological evaluation of the pesticide.

MRLs fixed at International Level by the Codex Alimentarius Commission jointly set up by the Food and Agriculture Organisation/World Health Organisation (FAO/WHO), are also taken into consideration as a guiding factor.