Lok Sabha Question No. 4307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-28
Subject: Use of Harmful Pesticides in Fruits and Vegetables
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SAVITRI THAKUR, MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA, RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4307

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  28 TH  MARCH, 2017

## USE OF HARMFUL PESTICIDES IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

4307.  SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR: SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA: SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that extremely harmful insecticides have been found in 12.5 percent  of  vegetables,  fruits  and  milk  and  other  eatable  items  in  the  country,  if  so, thedetails thereof;
- (b) whether the  banned chemicals are used in production of fruits and vegetables and also in early ripening of fruits and vegetables in the country, which have an adverse impact on human health, livestock and environment;
- (c) if  so,  the  provision  laid  down  by  the  Government  to  prevent  such  activities  of artificial ripening of fruits and vegetables;
- (d) the details of action taken by the Government under the above provision during the each of the last three years and the current year;
- (e) whether the Government has conducted any awareness campaign in this regard, if so, the outcome thereof; and
- (f) the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  ban  the  use  of harmful pesticides in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) & (b): The      Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare    is  implementing 'Monitoring  of  Pesticide  Residues  at  National  Level' (MPRNL)  scheme,    under  which food  commodities  and  environmental  samples    are  collected  and  analyzed  for  the presence  of  pesticide  residues.  During  2013-16,  a  total  of  59,511  samples  were analyzed, out of which residues above Maximum Residue Limit (MRL), as fixed by Food Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI),      were  found  out  in  1499  (2.5  %) samples.  The  commodity  wise  breakup  is  given  at  Annexure  I.  None  of  the  banned pesticides were detected under the MPRNL scheme.

(c): As per the information provided by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India  (FSSAI),  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare,  sub-regulation  2.3.5  of  Food Safety  and  Standards  (Prohibition  and  Restriction  on  Sales)  Regulations,  2011-  'No person shall sell or offer or expose for sale or have in his premises for the purpose of sale  under  any  description,  fruits  which  have  been  artificially  ripened  by  use  of acetylene gas, commonly known as carbide gas.

Provided  that  fruits  maybe  artificially  ripened  by  use  of  Ethylene  gas  at  a concentration up to 100ppm (100  l/L) depending upon the crop , variety and maturity'.

(d): As per the information provided by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India  (FSSAI),  no  separate  centralized  enforcement  data  regarding  presence  of pesticides  residues  and  ripening  of  fruits  and  vegetables  with  banned  chemicals  is available. However, based on information made available by the States and UTs, who are primarily responsible for enforcement of the provisions of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, and rules made there under, details of  food samples  analyzed, found nonconforming to the norms and action taken during the last three years is at Annexure II.

(e): A write up on harmful effects of consuming fruits artificially ripened with Calcium Carbide is uploaded on the FSSAI website for awareness of the public at large. FSSAI also   jointly issued advertisements on all India basis in newspapers with Department of Consumer Affairs under the aegis of 'Jago Grahak Jago' on artificially ripening of fruits. FSSAI has also asked State Food Safety Commissioners of all States/UTs to undertake awareness campaign on the pesticides/insecticides residues in fruits and vegetables in order  to  educate  consumers.  Consumers  are  also  being  made  aware  of  need  for washing  fruits  &  vegetables  before  consumption  to  avoid  any  harmful  effects  of pesticides etc. through social media, print media, events, fairs etc.

(f): The Registration Committee (RC) constituted under Section 5 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 registers pesticides after considering its efficacy and safety to human beings, animals and environment. In additions, technical reviews are carried  out from time to time  to  assess  the  safety  of  pesticides  for  their  continued  use.  Based  on  which,  the Central Government has banned/restricted certain pesticides/insecticides for use in the country.  The  details  are  at  Annexure III.  Further,  in  July  2013,  an  Expert  Committee was  constituted  under  the  chairmanship  of  Dr.  Anupam  Verma,  Former  National Professor, IARI, New Delhi to review 66 pesticides which are either banned or restricted in  one  or  more  countries  of  the  world  but  continued  to  be  registered  in  India. Considering the recommendation of Expert Committee as accorded by the Registration Committee,  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare,  vide  its  Notification  S.O. 4212(E) dated 15 th December, 2016, has invited objections and suggestions from the public/stakeholders  on  banning/phasing  out  of  certain  pesticides.  The  details  are  at Annexure IV.

ANNEXURE I COMMODITY WISE DETAILS OF THE SAMPLES ANALYSED DURING 2013-16

| Commodity     |   Samples analyzed | Samples above FSSAI MRL   |
|---------------|--------------------|---------------------------|
| Fish/Marine   |               2506 | 6                         |
| Fruits        |               6838 | 98                        |
| Meat/Egg      |               1281 | 0                         |
| Milk          |               1368 | 0                         |
| Pulses        |               2205 | 2                         |
| Rice          |               3090 | 186                       |
| Spices        |               3849 | 292                       |
| Surface Water |               1712 | 0                         |
| Tea           |                522 | 16                        |
| Vegetables    |              30219 | 827                       |
| Water         |               3450 | 0                         |
| Wheat         |               2471 | 72                        |
| Grand Total   |              59511 | 1499 (2.5%)               |

ANNEXURE II DETAILS OF FOOD SAMPLES ANALYSED, FOUND NON CONFORMING TO THE FSS NORMS AND ACTION THEREON

| Sr. No .   | Year    | Total No. of samples taken   | No. of Samples Analyse d   | No. of Samples found adulterated and   | No. of Cases Launched   | No. of Cases Launched   | No. of Convictions/ Penalties   | No. of Convictions/ Penalties      |
|------------|---------|------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|            |         |                              |                            | Misbranded                             | Criminal                | Civil                   | Conviction s                    | Penalties/ Amount raised in Rupees |
| 1.         | 2013-14 | 72,994                       | 72,200                     | 13,571                                 | 3105                    | 7130                    | 913                             | 2950/ Rs. 7,34,45,974              |
| 2.         | 2014-15 | 84537                        | 75282                      | 14716                                  | 2687                    | 7988                    | 1402                            | 2795/ Rs.11,28,45,522              |
| 3.         | 2015-16 | 71,119                       | 65,833                     | 14,283                                 | 1,656                   | 8196                    | 516                             | 3,483/ Rs. 21,19,08,436            |

## ANNEXURE -III

## LIST OF PESTICIDES WHICH ARE BANNED, REFUSED REGISTRATION AND RESTRICTED IN USE I. PESTICIDES / FORMULATIONS BANNED IN INDIA

A.

Pesticides Banned for manufacture, import and use .

- [ ] 1. Aldicarb

22.

Pentachloro Nitrobenzene (PCNB)

2. Aldrin

23.

Pentachlorophenol

3. Benzene Hexachloride

- [ ] 24. Phenyl Mercury Acetate

4. Calcium Cyanide

- [ ] 25. Sodium Methane Arsonate

5. Chlorbenzilate

26. Tetradifon

6. Chlordane

- [ ] 27. Toxaphene(Camphechlor)

7. Chlorofenvinphos

- [ ] 28. Trichloro acetic acid (TCA)

8. Copper Acetoarsenite

- B. Pesticide formulations banned for import, manufacture and use

9. Dibromochloropropane

- [ ] 1. Carbofuron 50% SP

10.  Dieldrin

- [ ] 2. Methomyl 12.5% L

11.  Endrin

- [ ] 3. Methomyl 24% formulation

12.  Ethyl Mercury Chloride

- 4.

- [ ] Phosphamidon 85% SL

13.  Ethyl Parathion

- C. Pesticide / Pesticide formulations banned for use but continued to manufacture for export

14.  Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)

1. Captafol 80% Powder

15.  Heptachlor

- 2.

- [ ] Nicotin Sulfate

16.  Lindane (Gamma-HCH)

- D. Pesticides Withdrawn

17.  Maleic Hydrazide

- [ ] 1. Dalapon

6. Simazine

18.  Menazon

- [ ] 2. Ferbam

7. Sirmate

19.  Metoxuron

- [ ] 3. Formothion

8.

Warfarin

20.  Nitrofen

- [ ] 4. Nickel Chloride

21.  Paraquat Dimethyl Sulphate

5.

Paradichlorobenzene

## II. PESTICIDES REFUSED REGISTRATION

|   S.No. | Name of Pesticides         |   Name of Pesticides | Name of Pesticides       |
|---------|----------------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|
|       1 | 2,4, 5-T                   |                   10 | EPN                      |
|       2 | Ammonium Sulphamate        |                   11 | Fentin Acetate           |
|       3 | Azinphos Ethyl             |                   12 | Fentin Hydroxide         |
|       4 | Azinphos Methyl            |                   13 | Lead Arsenate            |
|       5 | Binapacryl                 |                   14 | Leptophos (Phosvel)      |
|       6 | Calcium Arsenate           |                   15 | Mephosfolan              |
|       7 | Carbophenothion            |                   16 | Mevinphos (Phosdrin)     |
|       8 | Chinomethionate (Morestan) |                   17 | Thiodemeton / Disulfoton |
|       9 | Dicrotophos                |                   18 | Vamidothion              |

## III. PESTICIDES RESTRICTED FOR USE IN THE COUNTRY

|   S.No. | Name of Pesticides   | Details of Restrictions                                     |
|---------|----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Aluminium Phosphide  | The Pest Control Operations with Aluminium Phosphide may be |

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|    |                                         | undertaken only by Govt./Govt. undertakings / Govt. Organizations / pest control operators under the strict supervision of Govt. Experts or experts whose expertise is approved by the Plant Protection Advisor to Govt. of India except 1 Aluminium Phosphide 15 %12 g tablet and 2 Aluminum Phosphide 6 %tablet. [RC decision circular F No. 14-11(2)-CIR-II (Vol. II) dated 21-09-1984 and G.S.R. 371(E) dated 20 th may 1999]. 1 Decision of 282 nd RC held on 02-11-2007 and, 2 Decision of 326 th RC held on 15-02-2012. The production, marketing and use of Aluminium Phosphide tube packs with a capacity of 10 and 20 tablets of 3 g each of Aluminium Phosphide are banned completely. (S.O.677 (E) dated 17 th July, 2001)                                                                                                                                                     |
|----|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  2 | Captafol                                | The use of Captafol as foliar spray is banned. Captafol shall be used only as seed dresser. (S.O.569 (E) dated 25 th July, 1989) The manufacture of Captafol 80 %powder for dry seed treatment (DS) is banned for use in the country except manufacture for export. (S.O.679 (E) dated 17 th July, 2001)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|  3 | Cypermethrin                            | Cypermethrin 3 %Smoke Generator, is to be used only through Pest Control Operators and not allowed to be used by the General Public. [Order of Hon,ble High Court of Delhi in WP(C) 10052 of 2009 dated 14-07-2009 and LPA-429/2009 dated 08-09-2009]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|  4 | Dazomet                                 | The use of Dazomet is not permitted on Tea. (S.O.3006 (E) dated 31 st Dec, 2008)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|  5 | Diazinon                                | Diazinon is banned for use in agriculture except for household use. (S.O.45 (E) dated 08 th Jan, 2008)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|  6 | Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT) | The use of DDT for the domestic Public Health Programme is restricted up to 10,000 Metric Tonnes per annum, except in case of any major outbreak of epidemic. M/s Hindustan Insecticides Ltd., the sole manufacturer of DDT in the country may manufacture DDT for export to other countries for use in vector control for public health purpose. The export of DDT to Parties and State non-Parties shall be strictly in accordance with the paragraph 2(b) article 3 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). (S.O.295 (E) dated 8 th March, 2006) Use of DDT in Agriculture is withdrawn. In very special circumstances warranting the use of DDT for plant protection work, the state or central Govt. may purchase it directly from M/s Hindustan Insecticides Ltd. to be used under expert Governmental supervision. (S.O.378 (E) dated 26 th May, 1989) |
|  7 | Fenitrothion                            | The use of Fenitrothion is banned in Agriculture except for locust control in scheduled desert area and public health. (S.O.706 (E) dated 03 rd May, 2007)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|  8 | Fenthion                                | The use of Fenthion is banned in Agriculture except for locust control, household and public health. (S.O.46 (E) dated 08 th Jan, 2008)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|  9 | Methoxy Ethyl Mercuric Chloride (MEMC)  | The use of MEMC is banned completely except for seed treatment of potato and sugarcane. (S.O.681 (E) dated 17 th July, 2001)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 10 | Methyl Bromide                          | Methyl Bromide may be used only by Govt./Govt. undertakings/Govt. Organizations / Pest control operators under the strict supervision of Govt. Experts or Experts whose expertise is approved by the Plant Protection Advisor to Govt. of India. [G.S.R.371 (E) dated 20 th May, 1999 and earlier RC decision]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 11 | Methyl Parathion                        | Methyl Parathion 50 %ECand 2% DP formulations are banned for use on fruits and vegetables. (S.O.680 (E) dated 17 th July, 2001) The use of Methyl Parathion is permitted only on those crops approved by the Registration Committee where honeybees are not acting as a pollinators. (S.O.658 (E) dated 04 th Sep., 1992.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 12 | Monocrotophos                           | Monocrotophos is banned for use on vegetables. (S.O.1482 (E) dated 10 th Oct, 2005)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 13 | Sodium Cyanide                          | The use of Sodium Cyanide shall be restricted for Fumigation of Cotton bales under expert supervision approved by the Plant Protection Advisor to Govt. of India.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |

| (S.O.569(E) dated 25 th July, 1989)   |
|---------------------------------------|

ANNEXURE IV

## NAMES OF THE PESTICIDES IN THE NOTIFICATION S.O.4212 (E)

|   S.No. | Name             |
|---------|------------------|
|       1 | Benomyl          |
|       2 | Carbaryl         |
|       3 | Diazinon         |
|       4 | Fenarimol        |
|       5 | Fenthion         |
|       6 | Linuron          |
|       7 | MEMC             |
|       8 | Methyl Parathion |
|       9 | Sodium Cyanide   |
|      10 | Thiometon        |
|      11 | Tridemorph       |
|      12 | Trifluralin      |
|      13 | Alachlor         |
|      14 | Dichlorvos       |
|      15 | Phorate,         |
|      16 | Phosphamidon     |
|      17 | Triazophos       |
|      18 | Trichlorfon      |

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