(a) whether specific Insecticide and Pesticide tolerance limits for different Food items prescribed in Part XIV of PFA Rules are in line with the current tolerance limits prescribed by the European Union/FDA in US/WHO etc.;
(b) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) by when the Government are likely to bring tolerance limits to current tolerance limits prescribed by the European Union?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)
(a)to(c): The maximum tolerance limits for various pesticides for different food items are prescribed based on the nature of their use upon different crops, taking into consideration their toxicity, accepted daily intake (ADI), post harvest interval (PHI), food consumption pattern and average body weight of population, which is specific to a country. As such, the tolerance limits prescribed for different pesticides by different countries need not necessarily be the same.
The tolerance limits prescribed for different pesticides for different food Crops under Part XIV of PFA Rules are in the process of harmonization with that of the maximum residue limits (MRLs) notified by Codex, wherever applicable.