Question : PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

(a) the details of pesticides banned in other countries still being used in the country;

(b) the percentage of pesticide residues in various fruits and vegetables in the country;

(c) whether the Government has set up a Committee to ban the use of these pesticides in the country;

(d) if so, the details of the report submitted to the Government and the action taken by the Government thereon; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to generate awareness amongst the public against consumption of such fruits and vegetables?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a): The list of 72 pesticides which are currently banned/restricted/ withdrawn in one or more countries but continue to be registered for domestic use in India is Annexed.

(b): Between April 2009 and March 2014 1.9 % of total 79,648 samples of fruits and vegetables were found to contain pesticides residues above Maximum Residue Limits under the `Monitoring of Pesticides Residues at National Level` scheme.

(c): A Committee of Experts has been constituted under the chairmanship of Dr. Anupam Verma (Adjunct Professor), Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi, to review the continued use of these pesticides.

(d): The Committee of Experts has submitted a Report with respect to Neo nicotinoid class of pesticides. The Expert Committee has inter alia recommended that use of neonicotinoids may not be restricted immediately, there should be uniform caution statement `Do not spray during flowering stage of the crop` , inclusion of appropriate residue toxicology parameters in registration requirement and further studies on bio- efficacy and toxicity.

(e): Awareness campaigns amongst farmers through print media, electronic media and hoardings and Farmer Field Schools on safe and judicious use of pesticides are being organized.