In accordance with the report released by Union Ministry of Agriculture the remnants of illicit pesticides were found in the food samples that were collected as the part of 2005 scheme “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues”. These samples had been analysed by 25 labs and were collected during 2014-15.
(Agriculture Minister – Radha Mohan Singh)
- A total of 20,618 samples were collected across the country including organic outlets out of which 5% were observed with hazardous pesticides and 2.6% of them crossed maximum residue limit (MRL)
- The MRL is stipulated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under PFA Rules, 1955. (PFA – Prevention of food adulteration rules)
TEST RESULTS
18.7% of samples are marked with the residual pesticides while 543 samples with contribution of 2.6% were noticed with residues above MRL.
- Among vegetable non approved pesticide were detected in 1180 samples which include substances like acephate, bifenthrin, triazofos, acetamiprid, metalaxyl and malathion.
- Among fruits there were 225 fruit samples with pesticides identification like acephate, acetamiprid, carbosulfan, cypermethrin, profenofos, quinalphos and metalaxyl.
- There were 30 rice samples which were found with non-approved pesticides especially profenophos, metalaxyl and hexaconazole.
- Residues of triazofos, metalaxyl, carbaryl and acephate also detected 43 pulses samples
- 732 spice samples are also comprised with illicit pesticides.
Under this test ministry collected eatables including vegetables, fruits, spices, red chilli powder, curry leaves, rice, wheat, pulses, fish/marine, meat and egg, tea, milk , surface water from retail outlets, Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) markets and organic outlets.