Home / Health / India Tightens Tea Pesticide Rules
India Tightens Tea Pesticide Rules
5 Nov
Summary
- India proposes stricter pesticide limits for tea, lower than US and Japan.
- New limits for Acetamiprid at 20 ppm and Imidacloprid at 50 ppm.
- India's farm pesticide use is significantly below global averages.
India is set to implement stricter regulations on pesticide residues in tea, proposing legal limits that are lower than those permitted in major international markets such as the United States and Japan.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced draft rules, proposing a maximum residue limit (MRL) of 20 parts per million (ppm) for Acetamiprid and 50 ppm for Imidacloprid. These proposed limits, published on October 16, are subject to stakeholder comments before finalization.
These stricter MRLs are designed to prioritize consumer health without compromising necessary crop protection. The proposed limit for Acetamiprid is 20 ppm, which is lower than Japan's 30 ppm and the US's 50 ppm. The Imidacloprid limit matches the Codex standard of 50 ppm.
Despite these new measures, India's overall pesticide usage remains significantly low, with an average of less than 0.5 kg per hectare, well below the global average of 2.38 kg per hectare. These forthcoming rules will guide farmers, companies, and regulatory bodies in ensuring tea safety standards.
