Lok Sabha Question No. 3415 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-16
Subject: Use of Banned Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Bharti Pravin Pawar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 3415

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  March, 2021

## USE OF BANNED PESTICIDES

3415.   Dr. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR:

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare कृ ष  एवं  कसान  कयाण  मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note that certain banned pesticides are used  for  production  and  artificial  ripening  of  fruits,  vegetables  and  other  crops which have an adverse impact on human health, soil and livestock;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any study to identify the level of pesticide residues in the fruits, vegetables and other crops;
- (d) if so, the outcome thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ban the use of harmful pesticides in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a)  to  (d):    State  Government  of  Himachal  Pradesh,  Haryana,  Punjab,  Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Nagaland  have  reported  that  no  case  of  use  of  banned  pesticides  have  been reported  in  their  States.  Government  of  India  is  implementing  a  central  sector scheme, 'Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level', under which samples of  vegetables,  fruits  and  other  crops  are collected from  the retail outlets,  markets, farm  gate  etc.  and  analyzed  by  enlisted  NABL  laboratories  for  pesticide  residues. Under the scheme, a total of 30,664 samples of fruits, vegetables and other crops were  collected  and  analysed  during  2019-20  for  the  presence  of pesticide  residues;  and  residues  of  banned  pesticides  have  been  detected  in  78 (0.25%) samples. Reports of such instances have been shared with concerned State Governments to take appropriate legal and corrective actions as per the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968.

Further, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has reported that Banned pesticides are not allowed for production/ripening of fruits and vegetables and as per

Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sale) Regulation 2011, the ripening of fruits is permitted by using Ethylene gas at a concentration upto 100 ppm (100µl/L) depending upon the crop, variety and maturity.

(e):  Registered Pesticides are periodically reviewed with regard to their safety and efficacy. On receipt of new studies / reports/ references/ information by government from time to time, the review is done by constituting expert committees. Based on the  recommendations  of  such  expert  committees  and  after  due  consultation  with Registration Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture has so far banned or phased out 46  pesticides  and  4  pesticide  formulations  for  import,  manufacture  or  sale  in  the country. In addition, 5 banned pesticides are allowed to be manufactured for export only,  8  pesticide  registrations  have  been  withdrawn  and  9  pesticides  have  been placed under restricted use.

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