Pesticide Residues in Food Commodities in India: An overview$

Abstract

In India, 20-30% of the potential crop production is destroyed by insect pests, diseases, weeds and rodents. Pesticides are used to protect food crops from the onslaught of such pests however, their non-judicious application may leave residues on the food when they are consumed. The All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues (AINP-PR) established by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 1984, develops uniform protocols for safe use of pesticides by recommending ‘good agricultural practices’ based on multi-location ‘supervised field trials’ conducted at different agro-climatic locations in the country. The pesticide residues in vegetables, fruits, spices, herbs, cereals, meat, egg, tea, milk, fish and marine products, collected from the retail outlets, APMC markets, farm gate, organic outlets and surface water are monitored under the Central sector project of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level (MPRNL)”.The residues of multiple pesticides from food commodities are extracted using QuEChERS extraction method and analyzed by LC and GC coupled with MS/MS.  During 2018-2023, more than 1.30 lakh samples were collected and analysed. The residues of pesticide were detected in 28% samples of which, 3.5% samples were above Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) notified by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The information related to the pesticides detected, their levels and samples above MRLs, number of off-label and banned pesticides detected etc., is shared with the state governments for promoting the safe and judicious use of pesticides among farmers and  for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) interventions. The data is also used for assessing consumer risk. Residue monitoring data on spices generated under this scheme is submitted regularly to FAO/WHO/JMPR for risk assessment and fixation of Codex MRLs (CXLs) at international level. During 2014 to 2023, CXLs for 20 pesticide-spice combinations on five different spices (cardamom, coriander, fennel, cumin, pepper (black and white)) have been fixed based on the data submitted by India.